Geordan Murphy will collect his 53rd cap for Ireland when he starts on the left wing for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Italy at Croke Park.

Murphy, who has been in top form this season for Leicester Tigers, joins captain Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble and Girvan Dempsey in the Irish backline.

Leinster second row Malcolm O'Kelly returns to the starting XV to extend his Ireland caps record to 92.

Ireland team (v Italy, Saturday2pm):
15 Girvan Dempsey ( Terenure College/Leinster)
14 Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13 Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster, captain)
12 Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)       
11 Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers)
10 Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9  Eoin Reddan (London Wasps)
1  Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)                    
2  Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
3  John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)                    
4  Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5  Malcolm O'Kelly (St Mary's College/Leinster)
6  Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets)
7  David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)        
8  Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster )

Replacements:
16 Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)
17 Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
18 Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)      
19 Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
20 Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)      
21 Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
22 Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)