Jonathan Sexton included in Irish squad to face Italy

Jonathan Sexton has been named in Joe Schmidt’s extended squad for Saturday’s Six Nations meeting with Italy in Dublin, despite concerns over his fitness.

Flyhalf Sexton returned to Racing Metro with his thumb in a splint this week following Ireland bruising 13-10 loss to England and the Parisian club said he would out of action for 10 days to six weeks.

However Ireland then issued a statement, saying that if Sexton continued his current rate of improvement, they were confident that he would be available for selection against Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Hooker Richardt Strauss, who had heart surgery in October and was expected to be out for the season, also makes a welcome return while centre Luke Marshall misses out after suffering a concussion playing for Ulster on Friday.

Schmidt named a 33-man squad on Sunday night with Munster's Simon Zebo recalled after a number of impressive performances for the province, but there is no room for Tommy Bowe.

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Ireland squad for Six Nations v Italy

Forwards: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Robbie Diack, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, David Kilcoyne, Mike McCarthy, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Jordi Murphy, Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Donnacha Ryan, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner.

Backs: Darren Cave, Gordon D'Arcy, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo.


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