Ireland swap three for France trip

Sean O’Brien should return to Ireland’s team for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with France.

The head coach has made three changes to the team that squandered a 13-0 lead to draw 16-16 with Wales in Dublin on Sunday, with two of them enforced.

Munster flyer Zebo’s failure to beat his knee problem hands Leinster wing Dave Kearney a starting berth, with his provincial colleague Fergus McFadden drafted onto the bench.

“They got through training and at the same time we just felt they weren’t 100 per cent fit”.

Zebo and Earls were not considered fully fit and didn’t make the bench.

Although France earned an expected win over Italy last weekend, the manner of their performance was criticised by many in the French media.

Sean O’Brien, Rob Kearney and Dave Kearney all come in to the fold to face Les Bleus at the Stade de France, with Simon Zebo (knee) and Keith Earls (concussion) both out.

Johnny Sexton has no concerns about his ability to recover from last weekend’s neck injury, sustained tackling George North and colliding with Donnacha Ryan at the same time.

We’ve only had one chance to see France under their new management, but some of the new individuals they’ve thrown in have impressed. “They were probably letting the Italians attack too much and guys like [Michele] Campagnaro, they got on the outside and stretched them out wide”.

“Sometimes you definitely need to go low and chop”. They are never beaten over there and it’s one of the toughest places to go in worldwide rugby.

“But we’ve prepared really well for it, we’ve tried to give them the respect they deserve”.

“Just because we’ve had a little purple patch against them doesn’t mean anything now”.

IRELAND: R Kearney; Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, D Kearney; Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best (capt), White, McCarthy, Toner, Stander, O’Brien, Heaslip.