Earls the sole change to Ireland team

by Brendan Cole

Ireland have made one change to their team to play France in their second RBS 6 Nations clash, bringing Keith Earls in for Fergus McFadden at outside-centre.

The Munster back was named in Ireland's original line-up to play Wales - a match Ireland lost 21-23 at Aviva Stadium after conceding a last minute penalty - but had to withdraw for personal reasons.

McFadden is named on the bench with David Kearney dropping out of the squad. Earls will partner Gordon D'Arcy in the centre, where they will take on French pair Wesley Fofana and the physically imposing Aurelien Rougerie.

Rob Kearney starts at full-back with Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe, soon to be reunited at Ulster, on the wings.

Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton will continue their half-back partnership.

The back-row is also unchanged with Leinster duo Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip again starting and O'Brien remaining in the number seven jersey.

Blindside Stephen Ferris has also been cleared to start after a disciplinary hearing in London effectively concluded that he had no case to answer for the last-minute tackle that saw him yellow carded against Wales.

Peter O'Mahony is again named on the bench and awaits his first cap after not making it onto the field during the defeat to Wales.

Donncha O'Callaghan was replaced by Donnacha Ryan an hour into last Sunday's clash but he is again selected to start alongside captain Paul O'Connell. Ryan is also on the bench.

Cian Healy, Rory Best and Mike Ross continue in the front row with Sean Cronin and Tom Court providing cover.

Ronan O'Gara and Eoin Reddan are the substitute half-backs.

France were forced to make a late change to their team today, bringing Morgan Parra in for Dmitri Yachvili, who was forced to withdraw due to an attack of lumbago (lower back pain). Julien Dupuy has been drafted in on the bench.

Ireland team to play France at the Stade De France on Saturday, 11 February at 8pm:

Ireland: Kearney, Bowe, Earls, D'Arcy, Trimble, Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip

Subs: Cronin, Court, Ryan, O'Mahony, Reddan, O'Gara, McFadden