BBC Sportrugbyunion

The form of captain Brian O'Driscoll will be key for Ireland

Ireland aim to end a run of seven straight defeats against France to launch their first Six Nations campaign under Declan Kidney in style in Dublin.

The Irish won only two matches in 2008, leading to a fourth-place finish and the exit of ex-coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

Fly-half Paddy Wallace moves to inside centre as Ireland chase their first Six Nations win over France since 2003.

For France, Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Lionel Beuaxis form a half-back pairing at Test level for the first time.

Kidney, who led Munster to two Heineken Cup triumphs, took over as Ireland coach following O'Sullivan's exit last March.

O'Sullivan resigned after the disappointing finish to last year's Six Nations, their worst return since the competition was expanded to include Italy in 2000.

Kidney did not take charge until after the summer tour, which saw Ireland produce promising displays against Australia and New Zealand, and in November he saw his side beat Canada and Argentina but lose 22-3 to the All Blacks.

606: DEBATE It'll be tight and I'm getting nervous. My heart says Ireland by 10 but my head says France by three ulsterrugger

Former Ireland captain Keith Wood believes Ireland's Six Nations title ambitions hinge on Saturday's opening match.

"It's all about momentum and we have the hardest game first, against France," he said. "If we lose it we have no momentum. If we win it then we're in a very good place.

"Ireland have had a boost in confidence over the last couple of months because the provinces have started doing well.

"I had no expectations for Ireland up until three weeks ago, but they do have a chance. They have a settled look about them."

One of Kidney's targets will be to reverse a worrying spell against the world's leading nations.

LAST SEVEN SIX NATIONS RESULTS 2008: France 26-21 Ire 2007: Ire 17-20 France 2006: France 43-21 Ire 2005: Ire 19-26 France 2004: France 35-17 Ire 2003: Ire 15-12 France 2002: France 44-5 Ire

Following a 51-24 win over Italy in March 2007, they have played 15 Tests against countries ranked in the world's top 10 and won only four.

Kidney has sprung something of a surprise by naming Wallace as skipper Brian O'Driscoll's partner at centre and the success of that combination could prove crucial to Irish hopes at Croke Park.

O'Driscoll, who has led Ireland a record 51 times since 2002, was retained as captain by Kidney at the start of the year despite many expecting Paul O'Connell to take over.

Rob Kearney played on the wing for the autumn Tests but moves to full-back against the French, while Stephen Ferris will be eager to impress as he makes his Six Nations debut at blind-side flanker.

Jamie Heaslip retains his position at number eight despite pressure from the fit-again Denis Leamy.

Ireland have lost their last five encounters against France, and they last tasted victory in a 15-12 win at Lansdowne Road in 2003.

Since then, they have lost three times in Paris and twice in Dublin, the most recent defeat being a 26-21 reverse at the Stade de France last year.

Our ambition is to play our own game and win. I told the players to free themselves and show their potential French coach Marc Lievremont

France were third in the 2008 Six Nations but coach Marc Lievremont says he is happy to be fielding a full-strength team for the first time in his tenure.

Although Tillous-Borde and Beuaxis form a new Test partnership, they were part of the side which won the Under-21 World Cup in 2006.

Florian Fritz comes in at centre and Clement Poitrenaud has been recalled at full-back.

Maxime Medard displaces Cedric Heymans on the wing and Imanol Harinordoquy comes in for Louis Picamoles at number eight.

Coach Lievremont has urged his players to liberate themselves and fulfil their potential.

"Our ambition is to play our own game and win. I told the players to free themselves and show their potential."

The French coach said that after a year in charge he was approaching the first game of the championship "with more demands, more expectations and more hopes".

"More conviction too that this squad is strong, consistent, able to play good rugby and to beat anybody," Lievremont added.

Ireland: Kearney; Bowe, B O'Driscoll (capt), P Wallace, Fitzgerald; O'Gara, O'Leary; Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, D Wallace, Heaslip.
Replacements: R Best, Court, O'Kelly, Leamy, Stringer, D'Arcy, G Murphy.

France: Poitrenaud; Malzieu, Fritz, Jauzion, Medard; Beauxis, Tillous-Borde; Faure, Szarzewski, Lecouls, Chabal, Nallet; Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Kayser, Mas, Millo-Chluski, Picamoles, Parra, Baby, Heymans.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version