Kidney names team for France clash
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Ireland have brought Keith Earls into the team to play France and there is still a chance that Stephen Ferris could make the starting XV for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash in Paris.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney today named Munster flyer Earls in place of Andrew Trimble on the left wing while the blindside flanker spot has been left open.
Kevin McLaughlin, who started there against Italy, and Sean O'Brien have both been named among nine replacements in the squad announced today but Ferris will start if he is deemed fit.
Leo Cullen has also been named in the starting team with Donncha O'Callaghan not in the squad.
Trimble is also among the subs and, not including Ferris, an initial squad of 24 has been named.
The squad will have to be trimmed to 22 and two players will either be taken out or moved into the starting XV on Thursday.
Ferris trained with the Ireland team today but has been restricted by injury since Ulster's Heineken Cup Round Six victory over bath on 23 January.
Donncha O'Callaghan, originally named in the side to face Italy but subsequently ruled out, has not been named in the squad with Cullen continuing alongside Paul O'Connell. O'Callaghan has struggled with an injury in recent days and has definitely been ruled out of the squad with Munster team-mate Donnacha Ryan set to continue on the bench.
As expected, the starting front row from the Italy game is retained with Cian Healy, Jerry Flannery and John Hayes set to start again. Marcus Horan is still on the comeback trail after his two month absence from the game due to a minor heart problem and is not in the squad of 24.
Ulster duo Rory Best and Tom Court will provide cover from the bench at hooker and prop respectively.
In the back-row, the selected blindside will line out alongside David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip at openside flanker and number eight respectively.
Despite Jonathan Sexton's return to fitness, half-back pair Ronan O'Gara and Tomás O'Leary also keep their places after assured displays against Italy. Sexton is brought into the nine-man replacement line-up.
Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll continue at full-back, right wing and in the centres.
The trimming of the squad could see Ferris named at six and two of the replacements dropped from the 22. Alternatively, one replacement could be brought up into the starting XV - probably McLaughlin - and one taken out of the squad.
In the backs, Sexton could miss out as he does not cover as many positions as Wallace. However, Ireland have the scope to mix and match in the backline and accomodate could retain Sexton if they want.
O'Gara and Sexton were named in squads together for the November matches against Australia and South Africa, starting one game each.
Ireland name three survivors from their last successful visit to Paris: O'Gara, Hayes and O'Driscoll played in Ireland's last 27-25 victory in 2000.
Hayes will move onto 99 caps at the Stade de France and is set to become the first player to reach a century of Test appearances for Ireland against England at Twickenham two weeks later.
Ireland head to Paris seeking only their third victory in the French capital since 1952.
France opened their campaign with a comfortable 18-9 win over Scotland.
Ireland team to play France in the RBS 6 Nations at Stade de France, Saturday at 5.30pm:
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - A.N.Other
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Replacements:
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
