It’s as you were for Ireland as Kidney names exact same squad

The Ireland team to face Italy this weekend has been named. You could nearly recite the starting XV and replacements bench without looking at this stage.

Then again, it shouldn't come as a massive surprise that Declan Kidney has named exactly the same 22 that were selected for the aborted France game for Saturday's clash at the Aviva Stadium.

Some of the fringe members of the squad were given a chance to stake a late claim for selection with their provinces at the weekend, but despite impressive showings from the likes of Ronan O’Gara and Fergus McFadden, Kidney has seen no need to upset the apple cart.

O’Gara delivered a masterful display against Treviso on Saturday and with Jonathan Sexton struggling to overcome a thigh injury, it had been speculated that he might have been drafted in to face Italy, but Kidney has kept faith with the Leinster man, who will once again be partnered by Conor Murray at half-back.

Elsewhere, it’s as you were, with Donncha O’Callaghan once again holding off the challenge of Munster colleague Donnacha Ryan in the second row and Keith Earls set to play his first international of the year at outside centre.

Kick off at the Aviva Stadium is on Saturday at 1.30pm. At least – barring some freak weather intervention between now and the weekend – we’ll actually get to see some rugby this time around.

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell (captain), Stephen Ferris, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Fergus McFadden