Murphy wings in for unlucky Howe

IRELAND boss Eddie O’Sullivan had no hesitation plunging Geordan Murphy straight back into RBS 6 Nations action against Italy.

Lansdowne Road will provide the setting on Saturday for Murphy's first international appearance since breaking his leg against Scotland last September, an injury which forced the Leicester star to sit out the World Cup.

His return in place of the unlucky Tyrone Howe means there won't be a single representative from Ulster in the starting 15.