Ireland XV to face Italy in Rome.

Declan Kidney has selected Leinster duo Fergus McFadden and Luke Fitzgerald and Munster's Tomás O'Leary in his backline to face Italy in Ireland's RBS 6 Nations opener in Rome on Saturday.

Kidney lost five experienced players in the wing and full-back positions in the runup to the Six Nations. He has picked Fitzgerald in his favoured full-back position for the first time at international level.

McFadden, who was drafted in to the squad from the 'A' panel last week, will win his first cap on the right wing with Munster's Keith Earls picked on the other side.

Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll are the centre pairing, with O'Driscoll to captain the side.

O'Leary, who was initially not picked in the main squad is picked at scrum-half ahead of Eoin Reddan and Peter Stringer, with Jonathan Sexton set to start at out-half. Sexton's regular provincial partner Eoin Reddan is on the bench, along with Ronan O'Gara and Paddy Wallace.

 In the pack, Leinster duo Seán O'Brien and Mike Ross have earned starts. O'Brien has been selected at number eight with Denis Leamy and David Wallace in the wing-forward berths.

Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris were not considered due to injury.

Ross is picked at tighthead prop for his first Six Nations start with provincial team-mate Cian Healy on the other side the scrum and Ulster captain Rory Best at hooker.

Leinster captain Leo Cullen must make do with a place on the bench as Kidney opts to stick for experienced Munster duo Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan in the second row.

Seán Cronin, Tom Court and Rhys Ruddock are the other subs.

A twenty two man O2 Ireland Wolfounds Squad to play the England Saxons in Ravenhill on Friday has also been named. The starting XV will be announced by the Wolfhounds Coaches in Belfast on Wednesday.

Prop Tony Buckley is ruled out after picking up an injury in the game against Scotland 'A' last week. Declan Fitzpatrick is named in the squad in place of Buckley. Mike McCarthy is also named in the squad while Paul Marshall, Ian Keatley and David Kearney have also been called up.

 Ireland team to play Italy, RBS 6 Nations Championship, Stadio Flaminio, Rome on Saturday, February 5th, 3:30pm:
15 - Luke Fitzgerald
14 - Fergus McFadden
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Captain)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy
11 - Keith Earls
10 - Jonathan Sexton
9 - Tomas O'Leary
1 - Cian Healy
2 - Rory Best
3 - Mike Ross
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan
5 - Paul O'Connell
6 - Denis Leamy
7 - David Wallace
8 - Sean O'Brien

Replacements:
16 - Sean Cronin
17 - Tom Court
18 - Leo Cullen
19 - Shane Jennings
20 - Eoin Reddan
21 - Ronan O'Gara
22 - Paddy Wallace