The side shows two changes to the starting fifteen from the last outing, with both changes being made to the backline. Craig Gilroy, who missed the game against France with a groin strain, returns on the right wing in place of Fergus McFadden who is unavailable due to a rib injury. 

Paddy Jackson starts after Jonathan Sexton was ruled out with a torn tendon in his foot, and Ian Madigan is named on the replacements.

Ireland play Italy at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday at 3.30pm (2.30pm Irish time).

Ireland Team:
(Player/club/province/international caps):
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/45)
14 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster/4)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/124)
12 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/2)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster/38)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster/2)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/18)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/38)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/66)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/28)
4 - Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/9)
5 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/27)
6 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/13)
7 - Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster/26)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster/56) Captain

Replacements:
16 - Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/25)
17 - David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/6)
18 - Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
19 - Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/4)
20 - Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster/4)
21 - Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
22 - Ian Madigan (Leinster/1)
23 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College /Leinster/25)