O'Connell to captain Irish in Paris

Paul O’Connell will play captain Ireland in the opening RBS Six Nations championship game against France in Paris on Saturday next.

The 24-year-old Munster and Young Munster second row, first capped against Wales in 2002, leads the team in the absence of injured Brian O’Driscoll, the designated 2004 Six Nations Ireland captain, who has a hamstring injury.

O’Driscoll is replaced at outside centre by Gordon Darcy, who is selected in the Six Nations for the first time.

His previous five caps were earned as replacements. O’Driscoll has been replaced in the 22-man squad by Munster's Anthony Horgan.

Ireland’s match in Paris will mark the 60th appearance by second row Malcolm O’Kelly, first capped in November 1997 against New Zealand.

He becomes the fifth player in Irish rugby history to reach the 60 caps milestone, behind Mike Gibson (69), Willie John McBride (63), Fergus Slattery (61) and David Humphreys, who is a replacement against France, and who currently has 60 caps.

Other notable landmarks being achieved in Paris are the 40th international appearance for prop John Hayes; 25th caps for hooker Shane Byrne and winger Shane Horgan and a 20th appearance for open side flanker Keith Gleeson.

The Ireland team to play France in the RBS Six Nations championship in Paris on Saturday next is: 15 – Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College) 14 – Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne) 13 – Gordon Darcy (Leinster – Lansdowne) 12 – Kevin Maggs (Bath) 11 – Tyrone Howe (Ulster – Dungannon) 10 – Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution) 9 – Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon) 1 – Reggie Corrigan (Leinster – Greystones) 2 – Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College) 3 – John Hayes (Munster – Shannon) 4 – Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary’s College) 5 – Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster) Captain 6 – Simon Easterby (Llanelli) 7 – Keith Gleeson (Leinster – St. Mary’s College) 8 – Anthony Foley (Munster – Shannon)

Replacements: 16 – Frank Sheahan (Munster – Cork Constitution), 17 – Simon Best (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins), 18 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution), 19 – Victor Costello (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), 20 – Guy Easterby (Rotherham), 21 – David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon), 22 – Anthony Horgan (Munster – Cork Constitution).

Not considered due to injury: Denis Hickie (Leinster - St. Mary’s College), Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon), Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College), Alan Quinlan (Munster – Shannon).