Kidney able to name strong side to face Italy

Declan Kidney has managed to name a strong starting 15 to open the Six Nations campaign in Italy despite a severely depleted list of options in certain positions.

A spate of injuries that could have proved crippling in previous years, now look like serving as an important stage in the development of Kidney's side just seven months before the World Cup.

Last year's Six Nations brought little other than disappointment. Concerns grew amongst the masses that the grand slam winning coach was falling into the same trap as his predecessor. Those fears grew in the autumn as the former Munster supremo stubbornly refused to throw form players into the starting XV, favouring the tried, the tested and the tired.

Fergus McFadden, who was a surprise omission from the original squad, will win his first cap on the right wing in Rome thanks to the harm caused to the hand of Andy Trimble and the knees of Geordan Murphy, Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan and Tommy Bowe.

With the above contingent missing in action, the fullback role has been a hot topic in recent weeks and Kidney has chosen Luke Fitzgerald over Connacht's Gavin Duffy for the number 15 jersey.

Despite the Leinster wing's indifferent form of late and his shortage of minutes in the position, it is the sensible call. Duffy (29) has 10 caps under his belt and has never been above average. Even in a comparatively tame Connacht backline he is far from being the star performer.

Fitzgerald, though still in rehabilitation towards his best form will add a spark, a touch of the unexpected. To his right, McFadden has some big shoes to fill in Bowe's absence.

The Ospreys winger has picked up all manner of awards in the past year. He has been an ever present for Ireland but the Leinster tyro can take solace that he is in Bowe's position, where many of Kidney's favoured backline moves tend to wind up, but the pack must first get control of the ball.

With Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris ruled out, the back row could have been a worrying sight if it were not for Sean O'Brien's incredible breakthrough this year. O'Brien has been picked to anchor the scrum in Heaslip's absence. He is flanked by the other (fit) in-form forward, David Wallace and Denis Leamy.

In the front row, Mike Ross, who Kidney cut loose from Munster will get a long overdue start at tight head. With a scrum as bad as the Irish, Ross stands out week in week out for his province solidly locking every engagement and allowing everything behind him to flow.

Up against Italy in their first game of the year, the pack will always be asked questions, questions that will be repeated over and over again by the Azzuri whether you've got the answers or not. Ulster's Rory Best has been chosen at hooker. His extra bulk and experience, not to mention consistent line-out darts, will be needed.

It's not just front row's that get picked on bulk, Eoin Reddan misses out on linking up with Jonny Sexton. The former Wasps scrumhalf is forced to wait in the wings as Tomas O'Leary is sent in to act as a ninth forward.

Perhaps if Munster did not settle for the consolation prize of an Amlin Cup spot then there would still be a debate over the fly-half position. Aside from the lower grades of the Magners league, Ronan O'Gara has played on the back foot all season. He has been the stand in captain for an ill disciplined side sliding from glory to what is hopefully just a brief respite to sharpen their claws.

Sexton meanwhile has been at the centre of Joe Schmidt's rampant blues, his provincial captain Leo Cullen is joined on the bench by Shane Jennings, Leinster-bound Sean Cronin and Ulster utility back Paddy Wallace.

Ireland XV to face Italy: Luke Fitzgerald, Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll Capt, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O'Leary
Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Sean O'Brien

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Paddy Wallace