JOE SCHMIDT HAS named Keith Earls at outside centre for Sunday’s World Cup Pool D clash against France in Cardiff, with Jared Payne missing out through injury.
Earls gets the nod at 13 after Payne failed to prove his fitness. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Schmidt was believed to be planning to start Payne at outside centre against the French, although the Ulsterman has been sidelined with a foot injury in recent times and did not train fully in Ireland’s session at Newport High School today.
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Schmidt has confirmed that Ireland felt it wasn’t prudent to risk Payne’s foot injury this weekend with a quarter-final still to come.
In-form Munster man Earls instead retains the 13 shirt having played there last weekend against Italy, and will line up opposite the imposing figure of Mathieu Bastareaud.
In the pack, Devin Toner has been selected ahead of Ulster’s Iain Henderson as expected and, after a turbulent summer of recovery from neck surgery, Cian Healy has overtaken Jack McGrath as the first-choice loosehead for a potentially tournament-defining clash.
There is a further surprise in the selection of Richardt Strauss on the bench ahead of Sean Cronin, who has generally been the back-up to starting hooker Rory Best.
Luke Fitzgerald is the 23rd man on the bench, preferred to Simon Zebo.
A win or draw against les Bleus will secure top spot for Joe Schmidt’s side in Pool D, and with it a likely quarter-final against Argentina. The pool runners-up are almost guaranteed to meet reigning world champions New Zealand in the knock-out stages.
Ireland (v France):
15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Keith Earls
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Dave Kearney
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Paul O’Connell (captain)
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Jack McGrath
18. Nathan White
19. Iain Henderson
20. Chris Henry
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Luke Fitzgerald
Earls a surprise pick at 13 for Ireland as Payne misses out on France clash
Murray Kinsella reports from Celtic Manor
JOE SCHMIDT HAS named Keith Earls at outside centre for Sunday’s World Cup Pool D clash against France in Cardiff, with Jared Payne missing out through injury.
Schmidt was believed to be planning to start Payne at outside centre against the French, although the Ulsterman has been sidelined with a foot injury in recent times and did not train fully in Ireland’s session at Newport High School today.
Schmidt has confirmed that Ireland felt it wasn’t prudent to risk Payne’s foot injury this weekend with a quarter-final still to come.
In-form Munster man Earls instead retains the 13 shirt having played there last weekend against Italy, and will line up opposite the imposing figure of Mathieu Bastareaud.
In the pack, Devin Toner has been selected ahead of Ulster’s Iain Henderson as expected and, after a turbulent summer of recovery from neck surgery, Cian Healy has overtaken Jack McGrath as the first-choice loosehead for a potentially tournament-defining clash.
There is a further surprise in the selection of Richardt Strauss on the bench ahead of Sean Cronin, who has generally been the back-up to starting hooker Rory Best.
Luke Fitzgerald is the 23rd man on the bench, preferred to Simon Zebo.
A win or draw against les Bleus will secure top spot for Joe Schmidt’s side in Pool D, and with it a likely quarter-final against Argentina. The pool runners-up are almost guaranteed to meet reigning world champions New Zealand in the knock-out stages.
Ireland (v France):
15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Keith Earls
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Dave Kearney
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Paul O’Connell (captain)
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Jack McGrath
18. Nathan White
19. Iain Henderson
20. Chris Henry
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Luke Fitzgerald
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