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.

Loosehead

With Cian Healy getting back to full fitness following neck surgery, he has finally regained the No 1 jersey from Jack McGrath after a period of rotation. Healy’s presence around the field as a big ball carrier is a huge asset and his aggressive scrummaging will be seen as ideal for combating the equally abrasive French tighthead Rabat Slimani, who could yield penalties with a technique described by Bernard Jackman as “borderline legal”.

McGrath will be disappointed but knows that successful Test scrummaging requires a one-two punch and his contribution off the bench will be just as crucial as Healy’s initial 60-minute turn.

Lock

For all the talk of Iain Henderson as a force of nature, backed up by some powerhouse performances at this World Cup, the Ulsterman has had to make way for the bigger and more experienced Devin Toner as Schmidt looks to combat the line-out physicality of France’s Pascal Pape and Yoann Maestri, and return the maul to weapon status following a below-par outing against Italy last Sunday. Henderson can feel aggrieved and his carrying will be missed. He did little wrong against Italy but his role off the bench two years ago in Paris was a game-changer and Schmidt will ask for more of the same tomorrow, possibly as a blindside flanker replacement.