Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll is out of Ireland's Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Saturday after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.
O'Driscoll will be replaced by Leinster clubmate Gordan D'Arcy. The utility back has been rewarded for a string of impressive performances for the Lions this season and will partner Kevin Maggs at centre.
24-year-old Paul O'Connell will captain the side in the absence of O'Driscoll, who was named captain following Keith Wood's retirement after the World Cup. The Munster lock will partner Malcolm O'Kelly in the second row.
Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made four changes from the team that lost to France in the World Cup, bringing in D'Arcy, Tyrone Howe, Shane Byrne and Anthony Foley.
With Wood retired, the ever-patient Byrne got the nod ahead of Munster's Frankie Sheahan at hooker. Foley returns at number eight, while Munster's Ronan O'Gara has been named at out-half ahead of Ulster's David Humphreys.
Ireland (v France): G Dempsey; S Horgan; K Maggs; G D'Arcy, T Howe; R O'Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes, M O'Kelly, P O'Connell, capt, S Easterby, K Gleeson, A Foley.
Replacements: F Sheahan, S Best, D O'Callaghan, V Costello, G Easterby, D Humphreys, A Horgan.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
