The Ireland squad shows no changes from the Italy game. (c) Ken Bohane.
Declan Kidney has selected the exact same match day 22 as that chosen for last weekend’s 42-10 win over Italy. Despite some impressive cameos off the bench, particularly from Leinster’s Eoin Reddan, the Irish management team have kept faith with the likes of Conor Murray and Donncha O’Callaghan ahead of Sunday’s clash with France in Paris, with no changes to the starting 15.
Kidney’s team selection for this rescheduled fixture will almost certainly be greeted with accusations of conservatism and over-loyalty by many fans. Do you think Kidney should have made changes? If so, in what positions? Do you think Reddan and Donnacha Ryan deserved to be starting? Would you have made more than just two changes? Comment below with your opinion on Kidney’s decisions.
Ireland team to face France:
1. Cian Healy (Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Leinster)
4. Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster)
5. Paul O’Connell (Munster, capt.)
6. Stephen Ferris (Ulster)
7. Sean O’Brien (Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Munster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster)
11. Andrew Trimble (Ulster)
12. Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster)
13. Keith Earls (Munster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
15. Rob Kearney (Leinster)
Subs:
16. Sean Cronin (Leinster), 17. Tom Court (Ulster), 18. Donnacha Ryan (Munster), 19. Peter O’Mahony (Munster), 20. Eoin Reddan (Leinster),21. Ronan O’Gara (Munster), 22. Fergus McFadden (Leinster).
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Photo courtesy: Ken Bohane.
The Touchline 