Ireland Side For RWC Quarter Final.

There are two changes on the Ireland team to play France in the quarter finals of Rugby World Cup 2003 at the Telstra Dome (6.30 pm local time) on Sunday next, November 9th, compared to the selected side which played Australia on Saturday last.

John Kelly, who came on in that game as a replacement, is now selected at left wing three-quarter in place of the injured Denis Hickie, while Victor Costello, unavailable for selection against Australia because of a thigh injury; is now fully fit again and chosen at N0. 8.

Peter Stringer’s selection at scrum half for his 41st Test, makes him the most capped player in that position in Irish rugby history, surpassing the 40 caps gained by Michael Bradley (1984 – 1995).

There is also the possibility of another notable Irish rugby milestone, as the nomination of David Humphreys amongst the replacements presents him with the possibility of playing in his 60th Test. That would make the out half, who has won all but three of his caps at N0.10, the fourth most capped player in Irish rugby history. That distinction is held by Mike Gibson’s 69 Tests between 1964 and 1979; Willie John McBride’s 67 appearances between 1962 and 1975 and Fergus Slattery, who won 61 caps between 1970 and 1984.

The Ireland team to play France is:

15 – Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College);

14 – Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne)

13 – Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College)

12 – Kevin Maggs (Bath)

11 – John Kelly (Munster – Cork Constitution)

10 – Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution)

9 – Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon)

1 – Reggie Corrigan (Leinster – Greystones)

2 – Keith Wood (Munster – Garryowen) Captain

3 – John Hayes (Munster – Shannon)

4 – Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)

5 – Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster)

6 – Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

7 – Keith Gleeson (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)

8 – Victor Costello (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)

Replacements:

16 – Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College)

17 – Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon)

18 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution)

19 – Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College)

20 – Guy Easterby (Rotherham)

21 – David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon)

22 – Anthony Horgan (Munster – Cork Constitution)

France: 15 Nicolas Brusque, 14 Aurilien Rougerie, 13 Tony Marsh, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Christophe Dominici, 10 Fridiric Michalak, 9 Fabien Galthii (captain), 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Olivier Magne, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Jerome Thion, 4 Fabien Pelous, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 1 Jean-Jacques Crenca.
Replacements: 16 Yannick Bru, 17 Olivier Milloud, 18 Olivier Brouzet, 19 Patrick Tabacco, 20 Girald Merceron, 21 Brian Liebenberg, 22 Pepito Elhorga.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

Touch judges: Chris White (England), Nigel Williams (Wales)
Television Match Official: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)