Brian O’Driscoll has emerged for potentially his final RBS 6 Nations match as Ireland meet Italy at the Stadio Flaminio with his future beyond the summer undecided.
It is also possibly also Declan Kidney’s last game as head coach with his contract set to expire in June after four years of wildly fluctuating fortunes since overseeing the 2009 Grand Slam.
Ireland could finish anywhere from third to last, depending on the outcome between France and Scotland, while Italy have the potential to finish as high as fourth.
Italy: Masi, Venditti, G. Canale, Garcia, McLean, Orquera, Gori, Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini, Cittadini, Geldenhuys, Furno, Zanni, Favaro, Parisse.
Replacements: Giazzon, Rizzo, De Marchi, Pavanello, Minto, Derbyshire, Botes, Benvenuti.
Ireland: Kearney, Gilroy, O’Driscoll, L. Marshall, Earls, Jackson, Murray, Healy, Best, Ross, McCarthy, Ryan, O’Mahony, O’Brien, Heaslip.
Replacements: Cronin, Kilcoyne, Archer, Toner, Henderson, P. Marshall, Madigan, Fitzgerald.
Referee: Wayne Barnes