Daddy Earls is back for Ireland
Ireland recalled centre Keith Earls on Thursday in the only change to their starting side for this weekend’s Six Nations clash away to France in Paris.
Earls was included after being withdrawn from last Sunday’s tournament-opening 23-21 loss to Wales in Dublin as his girlfriend had given birth to their first child in the build-up to the match at Lansdowne Road.
Fergus McFadden, who took Earls’s place against Wales, dropped down to the bench with replacement back Dave Kearney, brother of Ireland fullback Rob, now out of the match-day 22 entirely for Saturday’s clash at the Stade de France.
Lock Paul O’Connell was again named as captain in the ongoing absence of star centre Brian O’Driscoll, out for the tournament with a shoulder injury.
Stephen Ferris was included at blindside flank in coach Declan Kidney’s side just a day after a disciplinary hearing rejected a citing complaint against the Ulster back row that, if upheld, could have seen him suspended.
Ferris was controversially yellow carded by English referee Wayne Barnes in the closing stages last weekend, allowing Wales’s Leigh Halfpenny to kick a match-winning penalty.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O’Connell (captain), 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Peter O’Mahony, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Fergus McFadden.
Date: Saturday, February 11
Kick-off: 21.00 (20.00 GMT)
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Andrew Small (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)
SAPA
