Rugby:Declan Kidney has named the same side that was scheduled to take on France in Paris 10 days ago, ahead of the visit of Italy to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (1.30pm).

After doubts over his fitness before a frozen pitch led to the game at the Stade de France being postponed, outhalf Jonathan Sexton is ready to take to the field against the Azzurri, while inside centre Gordon D'Arcy is set to earn his 65th cap and Peter O'Mahony may win his first off the bench.

The coach said changes were considered but the team named today was good enough for Paris and there was, therefore, no reason to adjust things.

“We had a good long discussion about it and we made sure, in our own heads, we were treating it game by game and not as a block of four,” said Kidney, who now has four games in as many weeks to prepare for after the France game was rescheduled for March 4th.

“We felt that this team was good enough to play France, so we obviously felt it was good enough to play in this game too.

He added: “We’re just going full throttle for this one.”

Ireland have lost their last three matches at the Aviva Stadium. Against Italy last season they required a last-gasp drop-goal from Ronan O’Gara to escape the Stadio Flaminio with a 13-11 victory. However, they were comfortable winners over the Azzurri at the World Cup in New Zealand last September.

Italy have lost their opening two matches of the championship, away to France and at home to England.

Ireland (v Italy):R Kearney; T Bowe, K Earls, G D'Arcy, A Trimble; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; S Ferris, S O'Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements:S Cronin, T Court, D Ryan, P O'Mahony , E Reddan, R O'Gara, F McFadden.