Three changes for Paris. Simon Zebo (knee) and Keith Earls (suspected
concussion) forced a delay in Ireland coach Joe Schmidt naming his to face France on Saturday in Saint-Denis.
Neither are deemed fit enough to travel so Rob Kearney returns at fullback, his younger brother Dave at left wing with Sean O'Brien for Tommy O'Donnell at openside making it a trio of Leinster players for Munster men.
“Normally we would name the team before training and everyone would have absolute clarity on what their roles are,” said Schmidt. “It’s unsettling and frustrating but it’s one of those things with a six day turnaround, particularly travelling.”
Johnny Sexton has no concerns about his ability to recover from last weekend’s neck injury, sustained tackling George North and colliding with Donnacha Ryan at the same time.
“I probably felt the way front rowers feel every day,” said Sexton.
“Soft outhalf, just didn’t hide it as well as those boys.”
“I got banged on top of my head and compressed my neck. Sore for the last fews days but I’m fit to go. Really looking forward to it.”
Paddy Jackson is released to play for Ulster this weekend.
Other changes see Rhys Ruddock drop out of the squad as O’Donnell goes to the bench, having passed a Head Injury Assessment last Sunday, while Eoin Reddan is preferred at scrumhalf cover instead of Kieran Marmion.
The unavailability of Zebo and Earls did provide an opportunity to promote Garry Ringrose to the number 23 jersey but Schmidt went with the experience of Fergus McFadden, who came off the bench in the Six Nations clinching victory in Paris two years ago.
“We’ve won twice in Paris, as an Irish team, drawn once after leading 17-3,” Sexton added. “It’s still one of the toughest places to go in international rugby. They put in a new regime under Guy Noves and always see to go well when they do that.
“(Jonathan) Danty I’ve played against him a few times and he is pretty similar in stature to (Mathieu) Bastareaud. A lot of ball playing capabilities to add to that and speed too.
“We will give them the respect they deserve.”
Schmidt concurred: “When I look at their individuals it’s a pretty scary bunch. The more time they have to form a collective the more threatening they will be. Hopefully we don’t see that until rounds three, four and five.”
Schmidt stated that Ireland trained for just 32 minutes on Tuesday and
63 minutes today. It’s safe to presume that not one of these 5700 seconds were wasted.
IRELAND: R Kearney; Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, D Kearney; Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best (capt), White, McCarthy, Toner, Stander, O'Brien, Heaslip.
Replacements: R Strauss, J Cronin, Furlong, Ryan, O’Donnell, Reddan, Madigan, McFadden.
