He is joined on the starting XV by Munster colleagues, Ian Dowling, Barry Murphy and Tomas O'Leary.

Of the 22 selected, 14 have no experience at senior competitive level while the most experienced player in the squad, Leo Cullen (18 caps) is named among the replacements.

Meanwhile Eddie O'Sullivan has named an unchanged senior side for Saturday's game in Stade de France with Anthony Foley on standby pending the outcome of the disciplinary hearing tomorrow in London involving Denis Leamy.

Ireland A

15. Gavin Duffy (Harlequins)

14. Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster)

13. Barry Murphy (UL Bohemians/Munster)

12. Kieran Lewis (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

11. Conor McPhillips (St. Mary's College/Connacht)

10. Jeremy Staunton (Wasps)

9. Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1. Ray Hogan (Galwegians/Connacht)

2. John Fogarty (Buccaneers/Connacht)

3. Bryan Young ( Ballymena/Ulster)

4. Mick O'Driscoll (Capt.) (Cork Constitution/Munster)

5. Matt McCullough (Ballymena/Ulster)

6. Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

7. Shane Jennings (Leicester)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)

Replacements

16. Brian Blaney (Terenure College/Leinster)

17. Ronan McCormack (UCD/Leinster)

18. Leo Cullen (Leicester)

19. Roger Wilson (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

20. Chris Keane (Buccaneers/Connacht)

21. Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

22. John Hearty (Galwegians/Connacht)