EXPECT a few tweaks here and there but there will be no “knee-jerk reaction” by the Irish brains trust this week as they digest last Sunday’s defeat to Wales and prepare for this Saturday’s follow-up against the French in Paris.

All eyes will be on Brian O’Driscoll’s replacement at outside centre when Ireland name their team for the RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales at lunchtime today.

Declan Kidney will name a team today ready to cast off Ireland’s bitter memories of a World Cup quarter-final exit by playing expansive rugby in their Six Nations opener against Wales on Sunday.

The gauntlet has been thrown down by Ireland’s assistant coach and now the boss must name a team to deliver the promise of expansive, free-wheeling rugby in the bid to exact revenge over Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Luke Fitzgerald has an outside chance of being available for the second round of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign.

GORDON D’ARCY admitted yesterday that Brian O’Driscoll will be “irreplaceable” come the Six Nations but challenged suitors to the number 13 jersey to grasp the opportunity to replace the injured talisman with both hands.

IRELAND are hoping to have a new team manager in place before the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship next month but are still assessing the candidates to succeed Paul McNaughton.

IRELAND fly-half Jonny Sexton has been backed to rediscover his place-kicking form after a disappointing start with the boot to his World Cup.

WITH just two days separating the games against Connacht and France, Declan Kidney’s resources were always going to be stretched this week, so yesterday’s injury update from Carton House was timely and welcome in equal measure.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has made two further additions to his coaching team with the announcement that both Alan Gaffney and Mark Tainton will be joining the Ireland staff.

AFTER Ronan O’Gara landed his match-winning kick against Leicester last month in the Heineken Cup he paid tribute to IRFU kicking coach Mark Tainton. Last Sunday another Tainton pupil, Paddy Wallace, impressed for Ireland against the Pacific Islands. Michael Moynihan spoke to him.