Three Changes On Ireland Team To Face France

02/04/02. Keith Wood returns to the Ireland side for the game against France in Paris next Saturday as does Rob Henderson while John Kelly is dropped to the bench.

Ireland team manager Brian O’Brien announced the side today in the Glenview Hotel naming Shane Horgan on the wing in place of John Kelly with Rob Henderson returning from injury to partner Brian O’Driscoll in the centre. With Wood returning to lead the side Shane Byrne drops down to the replacements with Frank Sheehan joining the A side.

Ireland. G Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure Coll); S Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne), B O’Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock Coll), R Henderson (Munster/Young Munster), D Hickie (Leinster/St Marys Coll); D Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon), P Stringer (Munster/Shannon); P Clohessy (Munster/Young Munster), K Wood capt (Harelquins), J Hayes (Munster/Shannon); G Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), M O’Kelly (Leinster/St Marys Coll); S Easterby (Llanelli), D Wallace (Munster/Garryowen), A Foley (Munster/Shannon).
Replacements. S Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock Coll), P Wallace (Leinster/Blackrock Coll), P O’Connell (Munster/Young Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster/St Marys Coll), G Easterby (Llanelli), R O’Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), J Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution).