Keith Earls will make his first Six Nations start for Ireland after being selected in place of the partially injured Andrew Trimble for the match against France. Stephen Ferris has been given more time to prove his fitness so the blind-side number has not been issued. Ronan O’Gara keeps the 10 shirt and Leo Cullen remains for the injured Donncha O’Callaghan. There are no other changes.
Team
R Kearney (Leinster), T Bowe (Ospreys), B O’Driscoll (capt), G D’Arcy (both Leinster), K Earls, R O’Gara, T O’Leary (all Munster); C Healy (Leinster), J Flannery, J Hayes (both Munster), L Cullen (Leinster), P O’Connell (Munster), AN Other, D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements (from): R Best, T Court (both Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), S O’Brien, K McLaughlin, E Reddan, J Sexton (all Leinster), P Wallace, A Trimble (both Ulster).
FRANCE v IRELAND Stade de France Saturday, 13 February Kick-off: 1630 GMT