Same again for Ireland
Despite several minor injuries Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named an unchanged side for the re-arranged Six Nations international against France in Paris on Sunday.
Kidney stuck with the exact same side that thrashed Italy 42-10 at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road last weekend, but they are likely to face a fiercer test against a powerful French outfit at the Stade de France.
Backs Rob Kearney and Gordon D’Arcy, as well as forwards Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy have all been named in the starting XV having recovered from various knocks suffered against Italy.
Veteran flyhalf Ronan O’Gara, who last week became Ireland’s most capped player as well as the country’s highest points scorer, is again on the bench with Jonathan Sexton starting at No 10.
Ireland captain Paul O’Connell will win his 85th cap this weekend.
Victory over Italy gave Ireland a record of one win from two Six Nations matches this term after a last-gasp 23-21 opening loss at home to Wales
The France-Ireland match had originally been scheduled for February 11 but it was called off by the referee minutes before the night-time kick-off due to freezing conditions and the dangerous state of the Stade de France pitch.
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: Sunday, March 4
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 17.00 GMT
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Andrew Small (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)
