Earls replaces Trimble as O'Gara stays for France clash

Ireland Coach Declan Kidney has named the team to play France in the second game of the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Paris on Saturday.

Keith Earls has been selected on the left wing in place of Andrew Trimble.

Ronan O’Gara will continue as Ireland’s fly-half with Jonathan Sexton, his younger rival for the number 10 jersey, included among the substitutes after recovering from the dead leg which ruled him out against Italy.

Donncha O'Callaghan has not recovered from the injury that ruled him out of the opening game. Leo Cullen has been named to start in the second row.

A vacancy has been left blindside flanker pending confirmation of the fitness of Stephen Ferris.

Both players took part in training with the Ireland team today but a final decision will be made on Thursday.

The seven replacements will also be finalised on Thursday from the possible nine players named today.

Ireland Team & Replacements (v France, Stade De France, Saturday 13 February 2010, k.o. 4.30pm Irish time)

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)

12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)

10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)

3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)

4 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)

5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

6 - A.N.Other

7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)

Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster

Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)