Humphreys, Dempsey and Murphy get the nod

CONFRONTED with an embarrassment of riches in key positions, Eddie O’Sullivan travelled an understandably conservative route in choosing his team to meet France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Once Girvan Dempsey convinced the coach he had recovered from his groin injury, his return at full-back was guaranteed. It followed that Geordan Murphy, who replaced Dempsey so capably against Italy, would revert to the right wing.

Having totalled 43 points, including two tries, as Ronan O’Gara’s replacement against Scotland and Italy, it was no surprise David Humphreys would hold on to the pivotal out-half berth.