Kelly fills Hickie void

Coach Eddie O’Sullivan today announced two changes to the Ireland side for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final showdown with France in Melbourne.

Winger John Kelly replaces the injured Denis Hickie, who flew home on Tuesday after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the nail-biting 17-16 defeat to Australia.

In the pack, Victor Costello has returned at number eight in place of Anthony Foley after recovering from a thigh injury that kept him out of the Wallabies game last Saturday.

O’Sullivan said the back-row was, to a certain extent, selected to combat France’s renowned loose forward trio.

“Anthony Foley is one of the best rugby brains in the world but this is a tournament scenario and we will try and use our best combinations,” said O’Sullivan.

“If we make the semi-finals then the door will be open again for him.”

Ronan O’Gara retains the fly-half jersey for the first time in the tournament, with David Humphreys to again start from the bench, though recent history suggests he will get a run at some point.

Hickie was joined on Tuesday’s flight by flanker Alan Quinlan, whose tournament was ended by a dislocated shoulder suffered the week before in the pool win over Argentina.

Australian-raised Keith Gleeson, who enjoyed an impressive game against his old rival Phil Waugh on Saturday, retains his spot as open-side flanker.

Victory over France will book Ireland a World Cup semi-final against either England or Wales in Sydney.

Ireland team: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, K Maggs, J Kelly; R O’Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, K Wood (captain), J Hayes, M O’Kelly, P O’Connell, S Easterby, K Gleeson, V Costello.

Replacements: S Byrne, M Horan, D O’Callaghan, E Miller, G Easterby, D Humphreys, A Foley.