The Nenagh man will partner Devin Toner in the second row for the clash with the Azzuri.
Jared Payne and Simon Zebo have both been restored to the backline.
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Payne has been restored to outside centre at the expense of Stuart McCloskey, who drops out of the match-day squad, while Zebo gets the nod to start at full back in the absence of the injured Rob Kearney.
They're the only changes from the side that started the defeat to England at Twickenham last month, but there are also several changes to the bench as Sean Cronin, Kieran Marmion and Fergus McFadden all earn recalls.
