Ireland have named an unchanged line-up for Sunday's Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome. The head coach Declan Kidney has retained the side that registered Ireland's first victory over France for six years with Saturday's 30-21 triumph at Croke Park.

Paddy Wallace was thought to be under threat for the inside-centre duties from Gordon D'Arcy but Kidney has opted against dropping the Ulster back. D'Arcy marked his Test return from a broken arm that kept him out of the game for 10 months with the crucial final try against Les Bleus after appearing as a substitute for Wallace. Wallace left the pitch in the first half with blood streaming from an eye wound, which required stitches, but has been given the all clear to face Italy.

Munster hooker Jerry Flannery has recovered from the shoulder 'stinger' that cut short his match 10 minutes into the second half. Captain Brian O'Driscoll will earn his 90th cap on Sunday while prop John Hayes will equal the current Irish record of 91 appearances held by Malcolm O'Kelly, who is on the bench.

Ireland won 51-24 on their last trip to Rome in 2007 but it was a bittersweet experience as they conceded a try on the stroke of full-time that effectively handed France the championship on points difference.

Ireland team to face Italy

15 Robert Kearney (Leinster), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), 12 Paddy Wallace (Ulster), 11 Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), 10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster), 9 Tomas O'Leary (Munster), 1 Marcus Horan (Munster), 2 Jerry Flannery (Munster), 3 John Hayes (Munster), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), 5 Paul O'Connell (Munster), 6 Stephen Ferris (Ulster), 7 David Wallace (Munster), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).

Replacements 16 Rory Best (Ulster), 17 Tom Court (Ulster), 18 Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster), 19 Denis Leamy (Munster), 20 Peter Stringer (Munster), 21 Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), 22 Geordan Murphy (Leicester)