IRELAND FINISHED THEIR 22-15 loss to Italy with players such as Rob Kearney, Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Heaslip on the field.
That trio were part of the 2009 Grand Slam team and have each won multiple Heineken Cups with Leinster.
A selection of others, and their Test caps, that stood, defeated, on the Stadio Olimpico pitch include Paul Marshall [1], Stephen Archer [1], Paddy Jackson [3] and Devin Toner [5].
Speaking after the loss in Rome, which ultimately left Ireland fifth in the Six Nations table, captain Jamie Heaslip said:
[It is tough], especially when you see that [flanker] Peter O’Mahony had to move to the wing for 60 minutes. That’s just what happened. You move on. It’s nothing new to us in this championship. It’s not ideal.”
Here is a starting XV of players that were either ruled out of the campaign through injury, suspended, missed matches with injuries or picked up game-ending knocks:
Loosehead: Cian Healy
Cited for a stamp on England’s Dan Cole. Missed the defeat to Scotland. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Hooker: Richardt Strauss
An ankle ligament injury ended Strauss’ Six Nations bow ambitions in January. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Tighthead: Declan Fitzpatrick
Coach Declan Kidney revealed the Ulster man would miss the France game through injury. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Lock: Paul O’Connell
Underwent back surgery in December that nixed his Six Nations hopes. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Lock: Mike McCarthy
Knee ligament trouble saw him miss the Scotland match. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Blindside: Stephen Ferris
A troublesome ankle tendon injury has cut Ferris’ season short. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
Openside: Chris Henry
A cartilage tear to his right knee cut Henry’s championship campaign short. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Number 8: Fergus McFadden
We’re stretching here but look at McFadden (broken ribs) take on French flanker Yannick Nyanga. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
Scrum-half: Eoin Reddan
A leg fracture against French has ruled Reddan out for 12-16 weeks. (©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Out-half: Jonathan Sexton
Sexton strained his hamstring against England and tore a tendon in his foot before the Italy game. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Left wing: Simon Zebo
The Munster winger broke a bone in his foot against England. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
Inside centre: Gordon D’Arcy
A stress fracture of the foot saw D’Arcy miss the final three matches. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
Outside centre: Keith Earls
The versatile Earls dislocated his shoulder against Italy. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Right wing: Tommy Bowe
The Ulster winger hyper-extended his knee against Northampton Saints in December. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Fullback: Luke Fitzgerald
A replacement that could cover multiple backline positions, Fitzgerald injured his knee against Italy. (©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Subs: Craig Gilroy [groin], Luke Marshall [concussion], Tomás O’Leary [back].
Dropped: Ronan O’Gara, Tom Court, Andrew Trimble, Kevin McLaughlin.
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