The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday has been named and coach Declan Kidney has opted for an unchanged lineup.

Saturday’s match at the Aviva Stadium has a 1.30pm kick-off time.

Ireland Team

15. Rob Kearney (Leinster)

14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13. Keith Earls (Munster)

12. Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster)

11. Andrew Trimble (Ulster)

10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster)

9. Conor Murray (Munster)

1. Cian Healy (Leinster)

2. Rory Best (Ulster)

3. Mike Ross (Leinster)

4. Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster)

5. Paul O’Connell (Munster)

6. Stephen Ferris (Ulster)

7. Sean O’Brien (Leinster)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Replacements

16. Sean Cronin (Leinster)

17. Tom Court (Ulster)

18. Donnacha Ryan (Munster)

19. Peter O’Mahony (Munster)

20. Eoin Reddan (Leinster)

21. Ronan O’Gara (Munster)

22. Fergus McFadden (Leinster)

]]> 1.3546528 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:33:34 +0000 http://www.limerickleader.ie/mcgahan_to_leave_munster_1_3546001

MUNSTER head coach Tony McGahan is set to leave the province this summer to take up a post as defence coach with the Australian national team.

McGahan is reported to have informed the players of his intentions at after a training session earlier this week.

Queenslander McGahan is said to have been offered another one-year extension with Munster with the option of a further year, but has opted to return home to take up a new position with the Wallabies coaching team.

The news will come as a major blow to the province’s plans, with Munster having finished as top seed in this season’s Heineken Cup pool stage.

Queenslander McGahan joined Munster in February 2005 as defence coach and the following season, with his role expanded to backs and skills coach, the Aussie played a central role in Munster securing their first ever Heineken Cup title.

McGahan enjoyed further Heineken Cup success in 2008 when Munster triumphed against Toulouse and in 2009 he succeeded Declan Kidney as the province’s head coach. The squad to the semi-final of the Heineken Cup and victory in the Magners League that season. McGahan also led Munster to another Magners league success last May when they defeated arch rivals Leinster in the Grand Final played at Thomond Park.

This season, Munster have secured a home quarter-final in the Heineken Cup against Ulster in April and remain strong contenders to claim a place in the knock-out stages of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Speculation has already begun as to how may succeed McGahan in the top job. Among those being mentioned as possible successors are former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, Munster forwards coach Anthony Foley, Edinburgh head coach Michael Bradley and Harlequins Director of Rugby, Conor O’Shea, Former Irish international O’Shea has, however, recently signed a new deal with Aviva Premiership side, ‘Quins.