Cian Healy’s appeal of a three- week suspension for stamping on England’s Dan Cole takes place in Glasgow this afternoon.

Solicitor and former Irish international Donal Spring will do the majority of talking on Healy’s behalf, with the main intention being to convince the new Six Nations disciplinary committee, chaired by Prof Lorne Crerar, that the 25-year-old prop’s suspension is unfair.

Healy is actually missing four weeks of rugby as the initial three-man disciplinary committee, chaired by Roger Morris of Wales, counted the week after the English match on February 10th as a fallow period because the player was not expected to be released to play for Leinster. Effectively, this punished Ireland’s player management system.

Spring could point out that Paddy Jackson has been released to play for Ulster on Friday, five days after starting against Scotland.

It can also be stated that a French player cited on the same day as Healy would be available to play at the Aviva stadium on March 9th.

Paddy Wallace’s season is over after it was confirmed the 33-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament playing against Glasgow on Friday night.

Wallace, Andrew Trimble and another long-term injury concern in Stephen Ferris, are currently negotiating new deals with Ulster and/or the IRFU. All three are out of contract this summer.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has recalled Maxime Medard and Sebastien Vahaamahina for round four of the Six Nations against Ireland. Medard has not played for France since last year’s Six Nations, while Vahaamahina has just one cap to his name.

FRANCE (squad v Ireland):Forwards: V Debaty, T Domingo, B Kayser, D Szarzewski, L Ducalcon, N Mas, Y Maestri, C Samson, A Claassen, T Dusautoir (capt), Y Nyanga, L Picamoles, S Vahaamahina; Backs: M Machenaud, M Parra, F Michalak, F Trinh-Duc, M Bastareaud, V Clerc, W Fofana, F Fritz, Y Huget, M Medard.