Rugby:Luke Fitzgerald has been entrusted with the problematic fullback role for Ireland's opening Six Nations match in Italy this weekend. Deprived of the services of Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy, Declan Kidney has opted for Fitzgerald ahead of Gavin Duffy and Keith Earls.
Earls at least merits a place in the backline whereas Duffy, the most experienced in the position of the three, has been omitted from the matchday 22 entirely. Fitzgerald, who has featured mainly on the wing for both Leinster and Ireland, has made no secret of his desire to switch to fullback in the longer term.
But his form since returning from a knee injury picked up in November has been patchy at best and Duffy can consider himself somewhat unfortunate to miss out.
Given the sheer scale of the injury problems facing the Irish coach and his management team, there were always going to be changes. Fergus McFadden, who will win his first cap, and Tomas O’Leary are also both added to the backline.
Up front, Jamie Heaslip’s injured ankle affords the in-form Sean O’Brien a start at the base of the scrum while Mike Ross comes in to shore up the Irish set-piece at tighthead prop. With Sean Cronin kept in reserve, Rory Best starts at hooker while Paul O’Connell gets some much-needed game time in the second row.
In total there are nine changes to the side that ended the autumn with a record victory against Argentina and McFadden is keen to make an impression on his debut.
“I feel my progress this season has been quite good,” he said. “When I was moved to the wing at Leinster I felt I was doing a job. Declan’s backed me and I can’t wait to go on Saturday. I want to do the basics well and if I get a one on one I like to back myself. I’ll look to come off my wing.”
Eric Elwood, meanwhile, will wait until tomorrow before finalising the Irish Wolfhounds starting line-up to meet the England Saxons on Friday night.
Declan Fitzpatrick has been named in the matchday 22 in place of the injured Tony Buckley while Paul Marshall, Ian Keatley and David Kearney will all play some part at Ravenhill.
Ireland(v Italy): Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster); Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster); Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Mike Ross (Leinster); Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster); Denis Leamy (Munster), David Wallace (Munster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster).
Replacements:Sean Cronin (Connacht), Tom Court (Ulster), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster).
Ireland Wolfhounds squad:Isaac Boss (Leinster), Fionn Carr (Connacht), Ian Humphreys (Ulster), David Kearney (Leinster), Ian Keatley (Connacht), Denis Hurley (Munster), Paul Marshall (Ulster), Johne Murphy (Munster), Eoin O'Malley (Leinster) Nevin Spence ( Ulster); Nigel Brady (Ulster), Willie Faloon (Ulster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Jamie Hagan (Connacht), Chris Henry (Ulster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Ian Nagle (Munster), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster), Dominic Ryan (Leinster),Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Damien Varley (Munster), Brett Wilkinson (Connacht).
