No Place For O’Callaghan in Ireland Squad

Irish coach Declan Kidney has named a 24 strong squad for the RBS Six Nations game against France that does not include lock Donncha O’Callaghan.

 O’Callaghan has failed to recover from the knee injury – sustained in the Heineken Cup game against Northampton Saints – that forced him to miss the Six Nations opener against Italy – and will sit this one out as well with Leo Cullen continuing on as partner to Paul O’Connell.

As expected Keith Earls takes over from Andrew Trimble on the left wing, the Ulsterman one of nine replacements named.

That number will be trimmed on Thursday when the AN Other position will also be decided as the Irish managment wait to see if Stephen Ferris recovers in time.

Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll capt, G D’Arcy, K Earls; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; C Healy, J Flannery, J Hayes; L Cullen, P O’Connell; AN Other, D Wallace, J Heaslip. Replacements: R Best, T Court, D Ryan, S O’Brien, K McLaughlin, E Reddan, J Sexton, P Wallace, A Trimble.