Munster captain Peter O’Mahony is expected to retake his place in the starting line-up when the Ireland team to name France in this weekend’s Six Nations decider is named on Thursday.
O’Mahony failed to recover from shoulder and hamstring complaints in time to face Italy in last weekend’s clash, and was replaced by Ulster’s Iain Henderson.
Munster scrum-half Conor Murray, who came off after just 17 minutes in the game against Italy, has trained with the Ireland squad this week, as has Cian Healy, whose ankles were strapped following the Italian encounter.
Ireland reported a fully-fit squad from which to choose.
Saturday’s will be the 92nd game between the two sides, of which France have won 55 and Ireland 29. There have been seven draws.
France have won 11 of the last 14 meetings between the sides, and it is was in 2000 when Ireland last beat the French in Paris, a young Brian O’Driscoll scoring a famous hat-trick of tries.
O’Driscoll has called upon his team-mate to repeat the heroics of that day this weekend, in his last international game this weekend.
Live television coverage of the RBS 6 Nations from 12:00 on Saturday 5 March (12:30 Italy v England, 14:45 Wales v Scotland, 17:00 France v Ireland) on RTÉ Two and RTE.ie (Ireland only). Live radio coverage of France v Ireland on Saturday Sport (14:00) on RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ.ie (Worldwide).
