John Kelly, who came on in that game as a replacement, is now selected at left wing three-quarter in place of the injured Denis Hickie, while Victor Costello, unavailable for selection against Australia because of a thigh injury, is now fully fit again and chosen at N0. 8.

Peter Stringer s selection at scrum half for his 41st Test, makes him the most capped player in that position in Irish rugby history, surpassing the 40 caps gained by Michael Bradley (1984 1995).

The Ireland team to play France is:

15 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster Terenure College); 14 Shane Horgan (Leinster Lansdowne) 13 Brian O Driscoll (Leinster Blackrock College) 12 Kevin Maggs (Bath) 11 John Kelly (Munster Cork Constitution) 10 Ronan O Gara (Munster Cork Constitution) 9 Peter Stringer (Munster Shannon) 1 Reggie Corrigan (Leinster Greystones) 2 Keith Wood (Munster Garryowen) Captain 3 John Hayes (Munster Shannon) 4 Malcolm O Kelly (Leinster St. Mary s College) 5 Paul O Connell (Munster Young Munster) 6 Simon Easterby (Llanelli) 7 Keith Gleeson (Leinster St. Mary s College) 8 Victor Costello (Leinster St. Mary s College)

Replacements: 16 Shane Byrne (Leinster Blackrock College) 17 Marcus Horan (Munster Shannon) 18 Donncha O Callaghan (Munster Cork Constitution) 19 Eric Miller (Leinster Terenure College) 20 Guy Easterby (Rotherham) 21 David Humphreys (Ulster Dungannon) 22 Anthony Horgan (Munster Cork Constitution)