KEITH EARLS WILL start at outside centre for Ireland in their must-win Six Nations clash against France on Saturday.
Earls’ return is the only change made by Declan Kidney for the trip to Paris, with all but one of the 22-man squad retaining their place following last Sunday’s defeat against Wales.
Fergus McFadden drops to the bench to make way for Earls, with his uncapped Leinster team-mate David Kearney the unlucky party to miss out on the matchday 22 as a result.
Earls was originally named in Kidney’s starting XV to face Wales, but was replaced by McFadden on Friday afternoon when his newborn daughter fell ill.
“[Keith's] been buzzing away since he’s come back in,” Kidney said at this afternoon’s squad annoucement. “He’s been training well.”
It’s tough on Fergus losing out; I thought he did a good job for us last Sunday, but I think Keith is worthy of his start.
In the half-backs, Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton are again preferred to Eoin Reddan and Ronan O’Gara, who both start from the bench.
Donncha O’Callaghan holds on to his starting place alongside captain Paul O’Connell in the second row, despite the attention of Donnacha Ryan who replaced him for the final 17 minutes last weekend.
Stephen Ferris, who was cleared of a dangerous play citation at a hearing in London yesterday, starts alongside Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the back row as expected.
Ireland: R Kearney; Bowe, Earls, D’Arcy, Trimble; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross; O’Callaghan, O’Connell; Ferris, O’Brien, Heaslip. Replacements: Cronin, Court, Ryan, O’Mahony, Reddan, O’Gara, McFadden.
France: Medard; Clerc, Rougerie, Fofana, Malzieu; Trinh-Duc, Parra; Poux, Szarzewski, Mas; Pape, Maestri; Dusautoir (c), Harinordoquy, Picamoles. Replacements: Servat, Debaty, Nallet, Bonnaire, Dupuy, Beauxis, Mermoz.
