Ireland team for France

[mikerob]

IRFU website says team will be announced at 1:30pm however this is already on their website so I assume it is correct!

Keith Earls will start on the left wing in place of Andrew Trimble who picked up an injury in the opening game against Italy.

Donncha O'Callaghan returns to partner Paul O'Connell in the second row having recovered from the knock that ruled him out last weekend. Leo Cullen reverts to the replacements bench.

Flanker Stephen Ferris has been named in the side subject to a further fitness test later in the week. Kevin McLaughlin will start if Ferris is unable to play.

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v France, RBS 6 Nations Championship, Stade de France, February 13, kick-off 16:30 gmt):

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster) / Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)/Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster
22 -

http://www.irishrugby.ie/10735_19668.php

[Freddie Benson]

Presume Paddy will make up the 22.

Don't agree with Cullen making way for DO'C. I'd have had DO'C coming back onto the bench. Cullen was superb and deserves to stay in the side for me.

Would have been an interesting call had Trimble been fit for selection. Must take it from this report that he was not.

[LondonRedHand]

Has 22 been left blank for McLaughlin then? If Ferris is fit can DK then change the squad at a later date (with Paddy Wallace coming in) I would be worried if our back-line cover was just Reddan & Sexton, much prefer Paddy Wallace being able to provide back-up at out-half AND centre.

Seems IRFU have ballsed this up, what's the point of their live stream for the announcment now?!

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

Seems IRFU have ballsed this up, what's the point of their live stream for the announcment now?!

who knows?
certainly not u by the guessing of it...

just cos u were fortunate enough to meet the whiteknightoftheweld in bath, doesnt mean u can come on here and act dumb...
jackass!

[pip14]

according to the irfu website know trimble and wallace are both on the bench....

[LondonRedHand]

haha so it was the real whiteknight i was talking to then! jerk.

[BR]

Now says bench will finalised on Friday
Also a suggestion that DOC will replace Cullen if fit.

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - A.N.Other
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

[mikerob]

IRFU webmaster has been typing frantically... team list has changed to:

Ireland Coach Declan Kidney has named the team to play France in the second game of the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Paris on Saturday.
Keith Earls has been selected on the left wing in place of Andrew Trimble. In the second row Leo Cullen has been named to start as Donncha O'Callaghan has not recovered from the injury that ruled him out of the opening game against Italy.

A vacancy have been left at blindside flanker pending confirmation of the fitness Stephen Ferris.

Both players took part in training with the Ireland team today but a final decision will be made on Thursday.

The seven replacements will also be finalised on Thursday from the possible nine players named today.


15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - A.N.Other
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster) / Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)/Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster
22 -

blank 22 wouldn't lend itself to paddy - sexton's inclusion means a centre/wing/full-back is required. maybe after duffy's good showing for the wolfhounds... or trimble's maybe going in here if he passes a fitness test?

there's maybe a slight doubt over cullen if ryan is bracketed in against him or is this linked in someway to ferris? i'd assume that o'brien will move out of the squad if ferris starts.

or that's all rubbish and DK wants several options for back-row cover cos that is where this game is going to be fought out...

edit: dumbass IRFU webmaster - hitting enter key before trimble's name was typed... and it's paddy or sexton. and donnacha hasn't made it...

wonder was IRFU webguy having a laugh, wee wager with his mates about what team would be...

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

haha so it was the real whiteknight i was talking to then! jerk.

massive jerk
with a huge nose
and an INST stars at that...

[Ulster throw in]

Presume Paddy will make up the 22.

Don't agree with Cullen making way for DO'C. I'd have had DO'C coming back onto the bench. Cullen was superb and deserves to stay in the side for me.

Would have been an interesting call had Trimble been fit for selection. Must take it from this report that he was not.

DOC is still injured. Cullen is playing!

It doesnt however say Trimble v Earls selection is due to injury?!? Trimble seems to have dropped to the bench fullstop. Agree with comments elsewhere that PW should be on the bench he can really make an impact. What to do with Sexton though?

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

What to do with Sexton though?

what u thinking off...?

[RedKC]

Presume Paddy will make up the 22.

Don't agree with Cullen making way for DO'C. I'd have had DO'C coming back onto the bench. Cullen was superb and deserves to stay in the side for me.

Would have been an interesting call had Trimble been fit for selection. Must take it from this report that he was not.

I wonder do they think DOC will provide more around the pitch and sacrifice a bit of competition in the lineout.

Why is Trimble in line for a place on the bench but not in the team. If Earls is injured after 5 mins is Trimble fit enough to come on? Can he play 75 mins but not 80? Seems strange to me.

[Ulster throw in]

Get him game time with the A squad?? Sitting on the bench watching that other clown wont help him much.

DOC is not on the team sheet!

[Ulster throw in]

Ok the team sheet/announcement has been 'updated' again! Trimble is an injury concern but might get game time??? Which is good to hear for he didnt put a foot wrong on Sat to merit being dropped to the bench.

The IRFU editor seems to be making it up as he goes! Either that or there are minds games being entered into with the French!!