Paul O’Connell is hoping Ireland will call on their international experience to secure a first win in Paris in 12 years after Declan Kidney named an unchanged XV for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France.
Three weeks and a day after Ireland were due to face France before the weather intervened, O’Connell and co will head to the Stade de France buoyed from their five-try win over Italy rather than still reeling from a narrow last-gasp defeat to Wales.
And Kidney has resisted the temptation to tinker with his side despite seeing replacements Tom Court and Eoin Reddan in particular, impress from the replacements’ bench against the Azzurri.
“We have used the time off well and maybe those weeks off have benefited us,” said O’Connell.
“We have trained well and prepared well and this is a very experienced side going over to France.
“A lot of the players have experience, either internationally or European, of going away from home and winning and we’ll be looking to use that experience on Sunday.”
That means Ireland will line-up with the same XV that were due to face France first time around with Keith Earls continuing to fill the outside centre berth left by Brian O’Driscoll.
And in an experienced-looking line-up that boasts a total of 575 caps with scrum-half Conor Murray the only one of the 15 to have amassed less than ten.
Cian Healy, Rory Best and Mike Ross continue in the front row with Donncha O’Callaghan and captain Paul O’Connell – two of seven starters with more than 40 caps – are once again in the engine room.
Stephen Ferris, who was impressive against Italy, links up with Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the back-row while Murray and Sexton, man of the match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, are the half-backs.
And Gordon D’Arcy partners Earls in midfield while Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble – who both crossed against the Azzurri – and Rob Kearney comprise the back three.
Ireland:
15. Rob Kearney (Leinster) 14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys) 13. Keith Earls (Munster) 12. Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster) 11. Andrew Trimble (Ulster) 10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster) 9. Conor Murray (Munster) 1. Cian Healy (Leinster) 2. Rory Best (Ulster) 3. Mike Ross (Leinster) 4. Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster) 5. Paul O’Connell (Munster) 6. Stephen Ferris (Ulster) 7. Sean O’Brien (Leinster) 8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
Replacements 16. Sean Cronin (Leinster) 17. Tom Court (Ulster) 18. Donnacha Ryan (Munster) 19. Peter O’Mahony (Munster) 20. Eoin Reddan (Leinster) 21. Ronan O’Gara (Munster) 22. Fergus McFadden (Leinster)
