RONAN O’GARA HAS been axed from the Ireland squad to face France in next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations clash at the Aviva Stadium, seemingly bringing an end to the international career of arguably Ireland’s greatest ever number 10.

The Munster veteran, Ireland’s most capped player after 128 appearances, was roundly criticised for a poor performance in last week’s defeat to Scotland, particularly for the mistake that led to Greig Laidlaw’s late penalty.

Jonathan Sexton comes back into the panel.

The 27-year-old is still considered ‘doubtful’ but has not been ruled out entirely, while Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson keeps his place in the squad despite a poor kicking performance against the Scots.

Ian Madigan of Leinster is the other fly-half named by Declan Kidney.

Ulster lock Dan Tuohy comes back in, while Tommy O’Donnell, Robbie Diack, Dave Kearney and Eoin O’Malley have all been named.

Ireland squad v France: Best, Cronin, Diack, Earls, Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick, Gilroy, Healy, Heaslip, Henderson, Jackson, Kilcoyne, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney, Madigan, Marshall, McCarthy, McFadden, Murray, O’Brien, O’Callaghan, O’Donnell, O’Driscoll, O’Mahony, O’Malley, Reddan, Ross, Ryan, Sexton, Trimble, Toner, Tuohy.

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