Same XV for 'most physically challenging' game of Six Nations

Declan Kidney has kept faith with the starting XV he named to take on France in Paris two weeks ago, naming an unchanged team for the visit of Italy to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (1.30pm).

Kidney has selected the same starting team for all three Six Nations games so far this season, but Saturday will be the first time they all play together in the tournament after the postponement of the French encounter and Keith Earls’ withdrawal from the opening game against Wales.