Rory Best captain’s the side from hooker and is flanked in an unchanged front row by Jack McGrath and Nathan White.  The second row sees Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy paired once again while there is one change to the backrow as Sean O’Brien comes in at openside to play alongside CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip.

Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton team up again at halfback while Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne continue in midfield.  There are two changes to the back three with Dave Kearney and Rob Kearney joining Andrew Trimble in the back field.

The replacements include Richardt Strauss, James Cronin, Tadgh Furlong, Donnacha Ryan, Tommy O’Donnell, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Fergus McFadden.

IRELAND team to play France – Saturday 13th February, 2016 RBS 6 Nations Championship

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c)
3. Nathan White (Connacht)
4. Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vc)

Replacements
16. Richard Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
20. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)