O’Mahony To Return In Paris

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony returns from injury to start for Ireland against France on Saturday alongside Munster team-mates Paul O’Connell and Conor Murray (ko 5pm).

O’Mahony missed the 46-7 win over Italy at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday through injury but comes back in the only change to the starting line-up as Ireland seek their first Six Nations Championship since the Grand Slam win in 2009.

Murray was replaced by Eoin Reddan in the first half of that win over Italy with illness but has recovered to start his fifth game of the Championship.

It will be Brian O’Driscoll’s last game in international rugby as the legendary centre bows out on 133 Ireland caps.

A strong French squad was named earlier today with six players from Munster’s quarter-final opponents, Toulouse, named in the match day 23.

There are five Toulouse starters with wingers Maxime Medard and Yoann Huget – joint top try-scorer in the tournament with three – 19-year-old centre Gael Fickou, second-row forward Yoann Maestri and back-row Louis Picamoles all named in the first XV.

Toulouse out-half Jean Marc Doussain, who kicked a late penalty to beat Scotland last weekend, is named amongst the replacements by Coach Philippe Saint-André.

The last two games between Ireland and France have ended all square. The sides are level on points with England at the top of the Championship going into the final round with Ireland leading thanks to their superior points difference.

Ireland Team & Replacements v France, Stade de France, Paris, 6 Nations Championship, Saturday 15th March (ko 5pm).

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
12. Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Capt.
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

Replacements

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Iain Henderson (Ballinahinch/Ulster)
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)