Stringer Gets The Chop

Peter Stringer and Denis Hickie pay the heaviest price for Ireland’s lack-lustre displays to date in the World Cup, with both being dropped from the match day squad for the game against France on Friday.

Eoin Reddan comes in to replace the Munster number 9, with Isaac Boss retianed on the bench while Andrew Trimble comes in for Hickie who, like Stringer is not deemed good enough on this occasion to warm the bench.

The third change sees Jerry Flannery named in the starting line-up with Frank Sheahan as cover on the bench.

Geordan Murphy who saw less than a minute’s action in the opener against Namibia is replaced by Gavin Duffy on the replacements bench..

Ireland: Girvan Dempsey; Shane Horgan, Brian O’Driscoll Captain, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble; Ronan O’Gara, Eoin Reddan; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell; Simon Easterby, David Wallace, Denis Leamy. 

Replacements: Frankie Sheahan, Simon Best, Malcolm O’Kelly, Neil Best, Isaac Boss, Paddy Wallace, Gavin Duffy.