THE Ireland U21 team to play hosts France on the opening day of the 2006 IRB U21 World Championship shows six changes to the side that lost 40-5 to England U21 in March in the final game of the U21 6 Nations tournament.

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger is set to be without his two first-choice left-backs until at least Christmas after Gael Clichy was ruled out of action for “three to four months.”

Seeded second by virtue of last year's runners-up finish, Ireland Under-21s have been drawn to face France, Samoa and South Africa in the opening stages of June's IRB World Cup in Argentina.

RUUD van Nistelrooy claims it is impossible to compare him with Barclaycard Premiership rival Thierry Henry because they are such different players.