Kidney rings changes for Italy clash

NINE changes, a first cap and a couple of Six Nations debutants will put Declan Kidney’s faith in the depth of his carefully assembled squad to the test on Saturday when Ireland face Italy in Rome.

The job of building a large pool of players, each able to vie and conquer the world’s best has been two years in the making since Kidney’s first season ended with a Grand Slam.

This weekend sees the beginning of the next stage of the mission as Ireland attempt to regain the championship after a difficult second campaign and kick on to this September’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.