Paddy Jackson: Battling injury
Ireland coach Declan Kidney left his fly-half position open ahead of Saturday's clash with France in Dublin.
Kidney has named the rest of his starting XV but has not confirmed who will wear the number 10 jersey, with Paddy Jackson, who started in the 12-8 defeat to Scotland, currently struggling with a hamstring injury.
If Jackson is ruled fit, he will compete with Ian Madigan for the fly-half position.
First-choice pivot Jonathan Sexton was also in the running for a return, after injuring his hamstring against England, but it was decided to give him a further week to recover.
"Paddy's chances of pulling through are very good and he should be good to train on Thursday," Kidney said.
"We'll make the choice between Paddy and Ian then.
"I was told just a moment ago that it will be better to give Jonathan Sexton another week to recover.
"Jonny ran at top speed this morning. It would be easy to put him in against France, but it's better that he builds up his strength for another week."
In total there are three changes, with Cian Healy, Fergus McFadden and Mike McCarthy all in the run-on side while Tom Court, Craig Gilroy and Donncha O'Callaghan miss out.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Keith Earls, 10 TBC, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip (c) 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Mike McCarthy, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 TBC, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 TBC, 22 Luke Fitzgerald.
Date: March 9
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Comments
LIONSMAN says...
Irishzimbabwean I would agree Ulster are a better team than Munster at present but that should not always translate into more players on the Irish team.
Munster have 5 or 6 very good Irish qualified players but the rest are not so good while Ulsters best players are imports plus the likes of Ferris are injured and not considered.
Posted 11:59 07th March 2013
irishzimbabwean says...
Ollie to start, Wardy on the bench and contact Jack Kyle to see if he still has his boots ready. All three will still tackle and make better breaks than an Irish Outside Half of recent renown.
Posted 11:18 07th March 2013
Rosbif says...
@Irish fans, no worries, you can have Michalak at 10 if you prefer :-)
Posted 07:51 07th March 2013
99call says...
I have no issue who starts at 10 against the french and wouldnt actually mind see if all the Leinster fans will be proved right as they appear to think Madigans the next big thing, we're not going to win no matter who starts so throwing him in might be the making of the lad.
The only issue I have is the hype about him recently is based on the last 2 Pro12 games against a weak Scarlets side and the whipping boys of welsh rugby the dragons which may give him the confidence to go out a play but standing in the middle of Lansdowne facing the french for your first cap is ever so slightly different.
Look at the Ulster and Leinster, Ulster have put their faith in Jacko as the starter and were top of the league until last week and in the last 8 of the Hcup with him steering the ship.
However leinster are doing ok in the league and are out of the Hcup with Sexton playing the important games and Madigan filling in where ever needed and theyve gone out and signed Jimmy Gopperth who is a top class 10 so I dont see Madigan walking into the starting shirt next season which says to me that coaching side dont have the confidence that Madigan is ready for the 10 shirt in the big games, maybe in a year or so but not now.
So were are we... Jacko or Mad Dog, as he appears to be known on here, both very talented players at the beginning of their careers, both will be fighting for the irish 10 shirt in years to come which can only be good, both of which could be crushed by a french side if they decide to turn up on saturday.
Personnaly Im a Jacko fan as Im an Ulsterman but I also rate Madigan so thankfully this is a side show to find out the 2nd and 3rd ranked 10 in Ireland as we've still got a good few years of Sexton left
Posted 16:34 06th March 2013
Noshonmescrote says...
If Jackson starts, Fergus must play in case he gets the yips again- and with Marshall playing so well (save that one pass) then he goes to right wing. If Mad Dog (awuh awuh awooooo!!!) starts you could have Fergus as a utility back covering all from the bench. Don't agree with your comparison of Fitzy and him, though. Mc.Fadden is all heart, and he has a huge future ahead of him. Fitzy is, however, well worth a start on current form- he looks hungry. I'd be happy with Trimble and Fitz on the wings, if Mad dog starts, and then Ferg covers as impact sub.
Posted 14:36 06th March 2013
99call says...
Sorry LIONSMAN but i have to disagree, ok you could argue that Tuohy isnt back to full fitness yet but why do you put Fitzy on the bench to cover wing, centre etc then when you get an injury on the wing for the next game bring someone in past him into the starting 15, yes you could argue that he did that with Jackson over ROG but we all know ROG cant hack it anymore at this level and this squad selection proves that even DK knows that
But Fitz is a British Lion who granted has suffered with terrible injuries but what Ive seen of him over the past few weeks tells me hes not far away from getting back to his best and to be honest a 75% Fitz is better than a 100% McFadden, if McFadden was in DKs thoughts as a potential starter he should have been on the bench against scotland
Posted 13:22 06th March 2013
LIONSMAN says...
How anyone could pick Tuohy and Fitzgerald is beyond reason.
Both have been crocked for most of the season and have not produced anything to suggest a start.Trimble played well the other night but had had numerous chances at international level and hasn't produced.
Posted 11:06 06th March 2013
Greyprop says...
@ Irish........wean
Of course I still support the individual players and their attempts to bring home the goods for us. It's the total mismanagement and seemingly directionless way that the entire structure around them appears to be run that gets my ire.
Posted 09:52 06th March 2013
99call says...
What has probably happened here is that DK has written off BODs last 6n with some inept selections and he will probably finish his irish career struggling not to end up with the wooden spoon rather than fighting for the title.
I personnaly dont give us a chance against the french no matter who plays at 10, if Sexton was there then maybe but Jackson or Madigan will be targeted by the likes of Picamole, Bastareaud etc and Parra will make Murray look stupid all day long.
I hope Im wrong but I doubt it............
So I plan to sit back with a beer in my hand and try to take the positives from the game and hope the likes of Marshall and Henderson, when he gets on, show some real potential and maybe show some potential new coaches that we have some young talent there waiting to be developed
Posted 09:21 06th March 2013
irishzimbabwean says...
99call - have to agree with your sentiments. Players careers are being damaged by these selections and the Irish team also. I remember reading the great book on the 1978 Munster v All Blacks match (Stand Up and Fight). In it Gerry McLaughlin bemoans how a Munsterman had to be twice as good a player as one from either Leinster or Ulster to get picked (and he was correct). However we now have Kidney correcting that history as there is no doubt that an Ulster player does not get the nod from Kidney on tight selections. The squad above has 5 Munster and 3 Ulster. Ulster lead Munster by 18 points in the Pro12.
Posted 09:13 06th March 2013
Irishzimbabwean says...
players - typo!
Posted 06:38 06th March 2013
Irishzimbabwean says...
Am really tempted to go the Greyprop route - it is now a joke. But will still be there on Saturday supporting, because it is not the Paleys' fault.
Why no Dan Tuohy? Why no Luke Fitzgerald? Why no Eoin Reddan? Pick the best outside half, if he is injured, then replace him (isn't that is what has happened with Sexton?).
Monty Python couldn't have written this farce.
Posted 06:37 06th March 2013
Noshonmescrote says...
Shame about Gilroy, of whose injury I was clearly unaware, but no need for idiotic attempts at facetiousness, francosaurus. Just makes you look like a div.
Team should have read...
15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 TRIMBLE, 10 MAD DOG 9 REDDAN 8 Jamie Heaslip (c) 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 HENDERSON, 5 TUOHY, 4 Mike McCarthy, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
16 Sean Cronin, 17 COURT, 18 BENT, 19 RYAN, 20 DIAK, 21 MARSHALL, 22 JACKSON, Luke Fitzgerald.
Also, if Henry were fit he'd start at open-side for me.
The above team would win.
Posted 00:14 06th March 2013
ABlack says...
The second row cover is TBC.......
Posted 20:47 05th March 2013
jbscott19 says...
You numbskull kidney.
Did anyone see Trimble play last Friday?
He played out of his skin and deserved a place in that backline.
He is playing very well in attack and his tackling and defensive workrate has been outstanding.
Kidney must go now!!!!!!!
Posted 19:15 05th March 2013
LIONSMAN says...
ciaran1792 I think your singling out Earls for his one mistake which is a bit unfair.
You could say the same about Luke Marshall for his missed pass which was worse, Paddy for his missed kicks,Rory for his missed throws,Sean O Brien for his lack of discipline giving away two penalties near the end.What do you think?
Posted 18:57 05th March 2013
Greyprop says...
I sat down and read the team selection and wanted to comment on it. After ten minutes I found that I had nothing to say about it, I really don't give a damn anymore about the whole IRFU/team circus.
What I would rather talk about is who the new national coach will be, what type of game will he have the team play, how will he nurture and develop the young talent waiting their turn, will he drop the sacred cow players who fail to perform.
What happens between now and then is only a sideshow. And of little relevance.
Posted 18:48 05th March 2013
papachinzo says...
Kick off; its the only way to choose !! Makes for better competition in the squad as well.
Posted 18:38 05th March 2013
ABlack says...
P Jackson looks like a reserve for the Killinchy Under 14 team....
Posted 18:25 05th March 2013
Dannyboy says...
From a rugby appreciation point of view, I think the French will appreciate Madigans fast and sniping style. They seem to like those opportunistic and quick 9 and 10s.
Posted 18:22 05th March 2013