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
JamieTheProp says...
Jackson is actually 12 years old isn't he!
Posted 17:33 05th March 2013
ciaran1792 says...
How in the name of hell does Keith Earls keep his place after his performance against Scotland. I like him as a player but I think he should be dropped for his bad decisions during the last match or at least punished for not making the right decision and carrying the ball in one hand instead of two.
Posted 17:25 05th March 2013
spike19 says...
why is there no second row cover??
Posted 17:15 05th March 2013
blametheref says...
This is plain stupid, he should name who he wants to start at 10 from the players within the squad, then if closer to the game Jackson is unable to play because of an injury, c'est la vie, he names the substitute
Posted 17:14 05th March 2013
francosaurus says...
Gentlemen, It is disturbing the way a lot of posters have "conveniently" chosen to forget about informatio which has been in the public domain for the last few days. Gilroy has been struggling with a groin injury for the last few days and was deemed unlikely to play. Or should we field the injured Gilroy? I mean, why has Tommy Bowe, POC or Fez not been included if we are to use the above rationale? We are on the cusp of one of the most painful transition periods since the days of Warren Gatland. The new generation needs to be given their head. Jackson or Madigan? Thats the next debate. From a purely experience perspective and this is pre Scotland. 1 had Heineken Cup experience, the other not so much. One had played in a H Cup final, I'm not even sure if Madigan was on the bench. Therefore, the logical choice would of been the player with the greater exposure to a high pressure environment. As such Jackson won hands down. The truth is, we do not know if either will be able to challenge Sexton, we can only hope that our much vaunted youth academies are pulling their weight and these two young men get the opportunity to grow and prosper in the test arena, but that is not guaranteed. Whoever starts should get the backing of the Nation. Whatever happens will happen, but surely, with a RWC not more than 3 years away and in our back yard for that matter, we should focus in ensuring that come RWC, we have brought in these young tyros and have found out whether they can make a vital difference to our chances of making a SF. This year's 6N started full of hope, but with a 45% injury profile, we were always going to struggle as the amount of youth is greater now than at any time in the last 10 years. McFadden, is a damn fine player and is as good and as capable as either Fitzy or Trims, but he can kick off the deck. Love him or loathe him, the Monsignor is correct on that one.
Posted 16:13 05th March 2013
rico says...
going for a hefty French win here despite their poor form and the fact it's in Dublin..... Ireland team sheet looks poor.
Posted 16:07 05th March 2013
Sheridan says...
Gilroy is injured...
Posted 15:59 05th March 2013
99call says...
Noshonmescrote
Gilroys got a groin strain so he wasnt dropped he just isnt fit, my problem is why Mcfadden and not Fitzy or trimble
Posted 15:57 05th March 2013
ronanmeagher says...
@Noshonmescrote - Gilroy is injured
Posted 15:53 05th March 2013
gleek says...
McFadden is a decent player - a good footballer who was Leinster's best player in the loss against Clermont in France. More worried about Earls on the left who is a very poor defender tbh.
Out of curiosity who comes in to the 21 shirt if Jackson is ruled out? Surely not O'Gara after the hoo-ha in the papers this week. Also why is there only 22 players named? Who is the reserve TH? I presume it is Fitzpatrick and there is just a typo.
Actually though I've seen worse Kidney teams. If we are honest with ourselves - if the French side that turns up is the sum of its parts then they will blow this side out of the water - no matter who starts at 10. My worry is this French team continue to play shockingly but still triumph due to Ireland's ineptness in attack. To be more specific I am afraid Murray's lack of speed to the ruck and passing ability will stifle those outside him.
Posted 15:36 05th March 2013
froggy73 says...
@99call: I this can make you feel better, us French are not looking forward to this game either.
Posted 15:30 05th March 2013
12Counties says...
@jmckenna92: I'd say you're from Connacht, are you?
Posted 15:28 05th March 2013
Noshonmescrote says...
Comedy gold dropping Gilroy and keeping Earls in the team. Dead parrot on the wing. Ingenious.
Posted 15:18 05th March 2013
99call says...
One step forward 2 steps back, what is McFadden doing in the side and what does Fitzy need to do to get a start.
With Gilroy out surely it was automatic that Fitzy moves onto the wing but too be honest i would have prefered Trimble as we'll need as much physicality as possible against the french.
What worries me is that he has picked McFadden as a kicking option....god help us all
Well the Madigan fan club may get there wish but I tell you one thing I wouldnt want my first cap to be against a french team that hasnt won a game as somewhere along the line the french are going to make a team suffer and I would probably say that will be us
So if Jackson isnt fit then its Madigan with the recently dropped ROG on the bench.
This is quite honestly the first time i have not looked forward to a 6n game and found myself wishing the tournament was over and that saddens me
Posted 15:13 05th March 2013
jmckenna92 says...
No tom court? No touhy? No trimble? Kidney has lost control
Posted 14:54 05th March 2013