3 positional problems for the Ireland team facing France

It would have been cruel luck had the in-form Keith Earls, one of Ireland’s top performers in this tournament, missed out on a berth in the backline because of a perceived lack of physicality. But it is a surprise Earls retains his place at outside centre rather than being switched to the left wing.

Jared Payne had seemed assured to return after a badly bruised foot against Romania kept him out of the Italy game but Earls clicked in midfield with Robbie Henshaw and Schmidt has seen enough in the partnership to retain a pair of different yet complementary players in what is shaping up to be a really influential are of the contest against Wesley Fofana and Mathieu Bastareaud.