Munster’s Simon Zebo has been included in an extended squad of 33 for next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy in Dublin.
However, Ulster’s Tommy Bowe does not figure after his hamstring tightened up during his side’s Rabo Direct PRO12 clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons, in which he scored two tries on Friday night.
Zebo comes into the panel in place of his Munster team-mate Felix Jones, who took a knock to the knee, while Tommy O’Donnell also misses out with a knock.
Leinster’s Isaac Boss has been given a week off as he has not had a rest since the start of the season.
Jonathan Sexton is named despite the thumb injury he sustained in the defeat to England.
IRELAND 2014 RBS 6 Nations Championship squad v Italy:
Forwards (19) –
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Backs (14) –
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
