Ireland v Italy: Teams
Ireland have named their strongest possible line-up for the winner-takes-all encounter with Italy in Dunedin.
Last Updated: 01/10/11 3:43am
Ireland have named their strongest possible line-up for the winner-takes-all encounter with Italy in Dunedin.
Despite having overcome Australia in the shock of the tournament so far, Ireland still need to overcome Italy if they are to reach the last-eight - with the Azzurri eyeing their own upset.
A victory for Italy, who only lost to Ireland 13-11 in the RBS Six Nations, would mean they finish above their rivals in the standings.
Brian O'Driscoll returns to lead a much-changed Irish line-up, with coach Declan Kidney having recalled nine players following the win over Ireland.
Tommy Bowe, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Conor Murray, Stephen Ferris, Paul O'Connell, Mike Ross and Rory Best all return.
That means Ronan O'Gara is preferred at fly-half, with Jonathan Sexton remaining on the bench.
Italy have made just the one change to the line-up that secured the bonus-point win over the USA, with Andrea Masi passed fit to play.
Masi comes in at full-back, with Luke McLean dropping to the bench.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (capt), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Andrew Trimble.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera , 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Cornelius van Zyl, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Andrea lo Cicero, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Edoardo Gori, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Luke McLean.
