Ireland eye France clash

Ireland have named a 33-man training squad for a two-day training session this week.

Having got their RBS 6 Nations campaign off to a flying start with away wins against Scotland and Italy, coach Eddie O’Sullivan is already turning his thoughts to the visit of France to Lansdowne Road on March 8.

Front-row Reggie Corrigan has been added to the lengthy Irish casualty list after suffering a suspected broken wrist during the 37-13 over the Italians in Rome last Saturday.

But fly-half Ronan O’Gara and full-back Girvan Dempsey have been included in the squad to meet on Wednesday and Thursday despite missing out at the Stadio Flaminio through injury.

O’Sullivan and his fellow selectors will pare down the squad to 22 players following the get-together and will name the team to play France on Tuesday, March 4.

Ireland training squad: Forwards: S Best (Ulster), J Fitzpatrick (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), M Horan (Munster), S Byrne (Leinster), F Sheahan (Munster), L Cullen (Leinster), G Longwell (Ulster). D O’Callaghan (Munster), M O’Kelly (Leinster), V Costello (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli), A Foley (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), E Miller (Leinster), A Quinlan (Munster).

Backs: G Easterby (Llanelli), P Stringer (Munster), P Burke (Harlequins), D Humphreys (Ulster), R O’Gara (Munster), R Henderson (Munster), K Maggs (Bath), B O’Driscoll (Leinster), D Quinlan (Leinster) J Staunton (Munster), G D’Arcy (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster) J Kelly (Munster), J Topping (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster), G Murphy (Leicester).

Not considered due to injury: J Bell (Ulster, shoulder), J Bishop (London Irish, finger), E Byrne (Leinster, calf), R Corrigan Leinster, wrist), P O’Connell (Munster, thumb), D Wallace (Munster, shoulder), P Wallace (Leinster, shoulder), K Wood (Harlequins, shoulder).