Ireland v Italy: Teams

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has selected his strongest available team for Friday's World Cup warm-up against Italy.

Skipper Brian O'Driscoll is out of the Ravenhill fixture because of the broken sinus he sustained in Bayonne last week and is replaced by Andrew Trimble at outside centre.

Geordan Murphy steps up from the bench to fill the gap left by Trimble on the right wing in the only other change from the team which thrashed Bayonne 42-6.

Paul O'Connell takes over the leadership duties in O'Driscoll's absence while his Munster colleague Denis Leamy has recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered against Bayonne to retain his place in the team.

Changes

The significant changes in the squad are on the replacements bench, where O'Sullivan has called on Jerry Flannery, Isaac Boss and Brian Carney to join Simon Best, Malcolm O'Kelly and Paddy Wallace.

There was also a late change, with Alan Quinlan called up to replace Stephen Ferris on the bench after the Ulster number eight was ordered to rest his injured knee.

"It's pretty much a full-strength side from what we have," O'Sullivan said.

"I am looking at what our best combinations will be in the centre if we have injuries and at the moment Andrew Trimble and Gordon D'Arcy are that and hopefully that will be proven on Friday night.

"In these games there is still an element of looking at combinations. Having

injuries does force your hand into tinkering with those combinations.

"We're without our open side Dave Wallace, we have put seven on Neil Best's

back but we might move those around during the game in different situations.

"It's full strength from what we have available and I was always hoping to go

down this road in the last game before the World Cup and put our best team on the field."

Azzurri

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has made seven changes to his team after the Azzurris' 36-12 win over Japan last week.

Matteo Pratichetti comes in on the wing, while South African-born Roland De Marigny replaces Ramiro Pez at outside-half.

In the back-row, Robert Barbieri and Alessandro Zanni will pack down alongside Sergio Parisse in place of Josh Sole and Mauro Bergamasco, while hooker Fabio Ongaro and tighthead prop Salvatore Perugini come in for Carlo Festuccia and Andrea Lo Cicero.

At lock, Valerio Bernabo comes in for Santiago Dellape.

Ireland team: G Dempsey (Leinster); G Murphy (Leicester), A Trimble (Ulster), G D'Arcy (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster); R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster, captain), S Easterby (Llanelli), N Best (Ulster), D Leamy (Munster).

Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), S Best (Ulster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), S Ferris (Ulster), I Boss (Ulster), A Quinlan (Munster) P Wallace (Ulster), B Carney (Munster).

Italy: 15- David Bortolussi, 14- Kaine Robertson, 13- Gonzalo Canale, 12- Mirco Bergamasco, 11- Matteo Pratichetti, 10- Roland De Marigny, 9- Alessandro Troncon; 8- Sergio Parisse, 7- Robert Barbieri, 6- Alessandro Zanni, 5- Marco Bortolami (capt), 4- Valerio Bernabo, 3- Martin Castrogiovanni, 2- Fabio Ongaro, 1- Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Matias Aguero, Josh Sole, Manoa Vosawai, Paul Griffen, Pablo Canavosio, Ezio Galon.