O'Driscoll and Stringer ruled out
Friday, 9 February 2007 13:46Watch all of this year's RBS 6 Nations matches live on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie/sport. Listen to all of Ireland's matches live on RTÉ Radio 1 FM, MW and LW 252.
Captain Brian O'Driscoll and scrum-half Peter Stringer will play no part in Sunday's RBS 6 Nation's match at Croke Park.
At a press conference at Croke Park this afternoon, Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan revealed that O'Driscoll has failed to recover from the hamstring injury that saw him leave the field early against Wales, while Stringer has been ruled out because of a fractured hand bone.
Ulster's Isaac Boss comes into the team for Stringer, while Shane Horgan will start in place of O'Driscoll at centre.
Geordan Murphy comes in on the right wing with both Andrew Trimble and Eoin Reddan on the bench.
O'Sullivan also confirmed that Denis Leamy came through training, so Jamie Heaslip is not considered for the replacements.
Paul O'Connell will assume the captaincy in O'Driscoll's absence.
Revised Ireland team to play France in the RBS 6 Nations at Croke Park on Sunday, 11 February:
G Dempsey (Leinster); G Murphy (Leicester), S Horgan (Leinster), G D'Arcy (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster); R O'Gara (Munster), I Boss (Ulster); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster).
Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), S Best (Ulster), N Best (Ulster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps), P Wallace (Ulster), A Trimble (Ulster).
