Eddie ponders the options

VICTOR COSTELLO or Anthony Foley at number eight; Malcolm O’Kelly or Donnacha O’Callaghan in the second-row; Shane Byrne or Frankie Sheahan at hooker; David Humphreys or Ronan O’Gara at out-half; Girvan Dempsey or Gordon D’Arcy at full-back.

The pressure is on for Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan ahead of the announcement today of his team to tackle France at the Stade de France on Saturday. And that's not all. Word is awaited on whether Brian O'Driscoll will take his place at second centre and there may be no firm news on that for another day or two.

If O'Driscoll's hamstring injury fails to respond sufficiently to intensive treatment, then O'Sullivan is likely to go outside his 22 with Munster's Mike Mullins and Rob Henderson the main contenders. But he could also choose D'Arcy as a straight replacement for the captain.