Blindside flanker Stephen Ferris and No8 Jamie Heaslip received rave reviews less than four months out from this summer's Lions tour to South Africa, while Brian O'Driscoll confirmed his position as one of the leading centres in world rugby with a typically-commanding performance.
Ireland originally had injury worries surrounding centre Paddy Wallace and hooker Jerry Flannerry after the pair sustained injuries in the 30-21 win over the French at Croke Park but both have been passed fit to travel to the Italian capital.
2005 Lions skipper O'Driscoll is in line for his 90th cap, while fellow Lion John Hayes will join Malcolm O'Kelly in becoming the most-capped Irishman of all time when he makes his 91st appearance for the Emerald Isle.
Kidney's decision to stick with the same matchday 22 from last Saturday means Ireland again include six Lions in their starting XV and a further three among the replacements.
Ireland
Robert Kearney (UCD - Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD - Leinster, captin), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster), Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin - Munster); Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster), John Hayes (Bruff- Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster), David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster)
Replacements: Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster), Tom Court (Malone - Ulster), Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College - Leinster),Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster), Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne - Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
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