Regular skipper Brian O'Driscoll is out with the fractured sinus he sustained against Bayonne last Thursday, so Andrew Trimble of Ulster moves to outside centre to plug the gap.

Leicester back Geordan Murphy is promoted from the bench and fills Trimble's place on the right wing in the only other change to the side that thrashed French club Bayonne 42-6 last Thursday.

Lock Paul O'Connell takes over the leadership duties in O'Driscoll's absence while his Munster colleague Denis Leamy has recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered against Bayonne to retain his place in the team.

O'Sullivan has made full use of his World Cup squad by making five changes to the replacements bench.

Hooker Jerry Flannery, back row Stephen Ferris, scrum-half Isaac Boss, winger Brian Carney and prop Simon Best join lock Malcolm O'Kelly and fly-half Paddy Wallace among the substitutes.

O'Driscoll has been ruled out until Ireland's World Cup opener against Namibia on September 9.

The Leinster centre was struck by Bayonne lock Mikaera Tewhata but despite the incident O'Sullivan has refused to protect his big names before the tournament begins.

Italy are Ireland's final pre-tournament opponents before departing for France on September 5.

Ireland: 15 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), 14 Geordan Murphy (Leicester), 13 Andrew Trimble (Ulster), 12 Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), 11 Denis Hickie (Leinster), 10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster), 9 Peter Stringer (Munster), 8 Denis Leamy (Munster), 7 Neil Best (Ulster), 6 Simon Easterby (Llanelli), 5 Paul O'Connell (Munster, captain), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), 3 John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), 2 Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 1 Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster), 17 Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 18 Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College/Leinster), 19 Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster), 20 Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster), 21 Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), 22 Brian Carney (Clonakilty/Munster)

Date: Friday, August 24

Venue: Ravenhill, Belfast

Kick-off: 18:45 (19:45 GMT)

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England), Tim Hayes (Wales)

Television match official: Derek Bevan (Wales)