Kearney will take his place at full-back for Saturday's game

Rob Kearney has been passed fit to start for Ireland in their Six Nations opener against France on Saturday.

The in-form Leinster full-back had been on crutches after twisting an ankle during training on Tuesday.

But Kearney, who has switched to full-back after playing wing in the autumn, has had intensive physiotherapy and passed a fitness test on Friday.

Geordan Murphy had been on stand-by to start but remains on the bench, with Girvan Dempsey now not required.

The experienced Dempsey, who has 82 caps, was in line to join the replacements if Kearney was unfit.

Luke Fitzgerald and Tommy Bowe were selected on the wing with Paddy Wallace partnering captain Brian O'Driscoll at centre.

Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O'Driscoll (capt), P Wallace, L Fitzgerald; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip.

Replacements: R Best, T Court, M O'Kelly, D Leamy, P Stringer, G D'Arcy, G Murphy.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version