Sean O’Brien has been included in the Ireland starting side announced by coach Joe Schmidt on Thursday for the Six Nations opener away to Italy this weekend, just days after returning to competitive action.
The British and Irish Lions flanker is set to play his first Test since November 2013, when Ireland begin the defence of their Six Nations title in Rome on Saturday, following two shoulder reconstruction operations.
Fourteen months on the sidelines ended when the 27-year-old O’Brien played for the second-string Irish Wolfhounds against the England Saxons on January 30.
Now a shoulder injury to fellow back-row Jamie Heaslip has paved the way for the 30-times capped O’Brien to play for the full Ireland side for the first time since their heart-breaking 24-22 defeat by world champions New Zealand in November 2013.
Schmidt said the absence of Heaslip, not included despite training on Thursday, had O’Brien installed in a revamped back-row rather than on the bench.
“We certainly didn’t necessarily see Sean starting this week but we felt he did well in the Wolfhounds game,” Schmidt told a news conference broadcast on the Irish rugby website.
“If Sean can give us a great 50 to 60 minutes I think that will help put us into the game hopefully.”
Munster’s Ian Keatley will start at fly-half instead of Ian Madigan, with first-choice stand-off Jonathan Sexton, now with Paris-based Racing Metro, resting under concussion protocols having suffered blows to the head in November.
New Zealand-born Jared Payne has been selected in midfield alongside Robbie Henshaw, with veteran centre Gordon D’Arcy failing to find a place at all in Kiwi boss Schmidt’s matchday 23.
Payne and Henshaw were alongside each other in November when D’Arcy was injured and Ireland were without retired centre great Brian O’Driscoll.
Up front, tighthead prop Mike Ross remained Schmidt’s only ever-present selection since becoming Ireland coach.
Veteran lock Paul O’Connell continues to captain the side in what will be Ireland’s first Six Nations since O’Driscoll brought the curtain down on his brilliant career after the team clinched the title in Paris last year.
However, Ireland proved their was life after ‘BOD’ by winning all three of their November Tests, which included victories over South Africa (29-15) and Australia (26-23).
Their last visit to Rome ended in a shock 22-15 defeat in 2013.
Ireland (15-1)
Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Jordi Murphy, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony; Paul O’Connell (capt), Devin Toner; Mike Ross, Rory Best, Jack McGrath
Replacements: Sean Cronin, James Cronin, Martin Moore, Iain Henderson, Tommy O’Donnell, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan Felix Jones
