6 Nations Profiles: Ireland Backs v France

GEORDAN MURPHY (LEICESTER TIGERS)

Date of Birth: 19 April 1978
Height: 183cm (6ft)
Weight: 84kg (13st 3lbs)

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 4 (v New Zealand, Australia, Romania, Italy); Points: 5; Tries: 1 (v Romania)
Leicester: Games Played: 14; Points: 10; Tries: 2

France v Ireland is Murphy’s 3rd Test against the French – he scored a drop goal in the 2003 meetingHe started all of Ireland’s Test matches in 2005, bar those on the tour to Japan, due to his involvement with the Lions – Murphy played in the third and final Lions Test in New ZealandNow fourth on the all-time Irish try scoring listHas scored 11 tries and 1 drop goal whilst playing at full-back for Ireland, and 5 tries as a winger. He kicked one conversion as substitute for David Humphreys against Wales in 2003Recovered from a broken leg he suffered against Scotland in the final warm-up game for the 2003 World Cup, missed that tournament and returned v Italy in the 2004 6 NationsHas been in England with Leicester Tigers since moving from Naas RFC in 1997Won Heineken Cup winners medals in 2001 and 2002Has played at full-back, centre and on the wing for his country

SHANE HORGAN (LANSDOWNE/LEINSTER)

Date of Birth: 18 July 1978
Height: 193cm (6ft 4ins)
Weight: 97kg (16st 1lb)

Position: Wing/Centre
Debut: v Scotland, February 2000
Caps: 41
Lions Test Caps: 3
Points: 65
Tries: 13

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 4 (v New Zealand, Australia, Romania, Italy); Points: 5; Tries: 1 (v Australia)
Leinster: Games Played: 13; Points: 25; Tries: 5

France v Ireland is Horgan’s 4th Test against the French – he has yet to score against Les BleusHe was a replacement for the Lions against Argentina last May and in all 3 Tests against New Zealand last summerOne of five players in the current Irish squad to make their debuts against Scotland in 2000Horgan scored on his debut, adding a further 4 tries in 2000 but has gone through a dry patch recently, scoring only 3 tries in his last 20 Tests for IrelandRekindled his form in Leinster’s recent run to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, scoring 3 tries in 6 pool gamesBefore Saturday, Horgan has won 9 caps at centre, 31 on the wing and one cap as a substitute from Girvan Dempsey…

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL (BLACKROCK COLLEGE/LEINSTER) (CAPTAIN)

Date of Birth: 21 January 1979
Height: 180cm (5ft 11ins)
Weight: 90kg (14st 3lbs)

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 1 (v Italy (captain))
Leinster: Games Played: 5; Points: 15; Tries: 3

..France v Ireland is his 24th Test as team captain…Saturday marks the centre’s 7th Test against the French (7 tries)O’Driscoll has led Ireland to 18 wins in 23 outings as skipper – equals Tom Kiernan (24, 2nd) in the list of Irish captaincies in Paris – Keith Wood 1st (33)This is his second cap since the 32-20 defeat by Wales at the Millennium Stadium last MarchDislocated his right shoulder in the first Lions Test v New Zealand in JuneO’Driscoll, Ireland’s record try scorer (27), has scored 16 tries in previous 6 Nations tournaments – he beat the record of George Stephenson (14) with a try against England last seasonHe famously scored Test hat-tricks against France (2000) and Scotland (2002)Played in all three Lions Tests in Australia in 2001 – captain of 2005 LionsVoted Irish Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002…

GORDON D’ARCY (LANSDOWNE/LEINSTER)

Date of Birth: 10 February 1980
Height: 178cm (5ft 10ins)
Weight: 94kg (14st 3lbs)

Position: Centre/Full-Back
Debut: v Romania, October 1999
Caps: 16
Points: 10
Tries: 2

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 4 (v New Zealand, Australia, Romania, Italy)
Leinster: Games Played: 6; Points: 15; Tries: 3

Saturday’s France v Ireland clash will be D’Arcy’s 2nd Test against the French – he failed to score in his previous outing against Les Bleus (2004)Returned to go on Lions tour, and start all three of Ireland’s autumn internationalsVoted 2004 6 Nations Player of the tournament by the BBCD’Arcy’s first 2 Ireland tries came in the 2004 Triple Crown win against ScotlandWon his first cap at full-back, as a replacement for Conor O’Shea, against Romania at the 1999 World Cup – his second followed some three years later against FijiAlso made his Leinster debut (1998) and Ireland ‘A’ debut (1999) as a teenagerShowed flashes of his brilliance in helping Leinster through to the 2005/06 Heineken Cup quarter-finals, scoring 3 tries in 6 pool games

TOMMY BOWE (BELFAST HARLEQUINS/ULSTER)

Date of Birth: 22 February 1984
Height: 191cm (6ft 3ins)
Weight: 89kg (14st)
Position: Wing

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 4 (v New Zealand, Australia, Romania, Italy); Points: 5; Tries: 1 (v Italy)
Ulster: Games Played: 16; Points: 30; Tries: 6

Bowe scored a try on his debut against the USA in November 2004Saturday will be only his second 6 Nations game and first encounter with France…He scored his 3rd try in 7 Tests last week against ItalySaturday is also the Monaghan man’s 7th consecutive capHis appearance against the US saw him become the first Monaghan native to play for Ireland in more than 80 yearsImpressed for the Ireland Under-21 side on route to the 2004 U-21 World Cup final in Scotland, but was injured for the decider against New ZealandHas operated on the wing and at full-back for Ulster this season

RONAN O’GARA (CORK CONSTITUTION/MUNSTER)

Date of Birth: 7 March 1977
Height: 180cm (5ft 10ins)
Weight: 83kg (13st)

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 4 (v New Zealand, Australia, Romania (sub), Italy); Points: 22; Conversions: 2; Penalties: 6
Munster: Games Played: 14; Points: 139; Tries: 1; Conversions: 31; Penalties: 22; Drop Goals: 2

Saturday’s clash will be O’Gara’s 7th Test against France – he has scored 42 points (6 conversions and 10 penalties) against them in previous gamesWas the 2005 6 Nations top scorer with 60 pointsHe scored a then championship record 30 points (6 conversions and 6 penalties) against Italy in 2000One of five players to make their Irish debuts against Scotland in 2000His two drop goals against England last year took him past David Humphreys as Ireland’s record drop goal scorerWas previously Ireland’s record points scorer, but Humphreys regained that title on tour to Japan last summer – O’Gara is now 13 points behind the UlstermanPlayed in two Heineken Cup finals for Munster in 2000 and 2002toured Australia with the Lions in 2001, and earned his first Test cap as a Lion as a replacement in the third Test against New Zealand last July

PETER STRINGER (SHANNON/MUNSTER)

Date of Birth: 13 December 1977
Height: 170cm (5ft 7ins)
Weight: 70kg (11st)

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 4 (v New Zealand, Australia, Romania (sub), Italy)
Munster: Games Played: 13

Is set for his 8th Test against France – he is yet to score against Les BleusSaturday will be his 38th Test starting with school mate Ronan O’Gara as Ireland’s halfback pairingStringer is Ireland’s most-capped scrum half – incredibly, he has played in 62 of Ireland’s last 67 Tests (he was rested for the games against USA (2000), Fiji (2002) and Tonga, Samoa and Italy (2003))Saturday will see him go level with Willie John McBride (63) as the fifth most-capped Ireland player of all-time…One of five players in the current squad to make their debuts against Scotland in 2000Played in two Heineken Cup finals for Munster in 2000 and 2002

REPLACEMENTS:

EOIN REDDAN (LONDON WASPS)

Date of Birth: 20 November 1980
Height: 170cm (5ft 7in)
Weight: 80kg (12st 9lbs)

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: –
Wasps: Games Played: 15; Points: 15; Tries: 3

Reddan is the only uncapped player in the Ireland 22 for Saturday’s clash with FranceCalled up to the Senior squad as a result of his good form for London Wasps, the club he signed for last summer from MunsterAlso had a spell with Connacht before returning to Munster, the province he began with, in 2003Capped previously at Under-21 level for IrelandStarted playing rugby as a 13-year-old for local Limerick club Old Crescent

DAVID HUMPHREYS (BALLYMENA/ULSTER)

Date of Birth: 10 September 1971
Height: 178cm (5ft 10ins)
Weight: 83kg (13st)

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 3 (v New Zealand (sub), Australia (sub), Romania (captain)); Points: 18; Conversions: 6; Penalties: 2
Ulster: Games Played: 14; Points: 168; Tries: 1; Conversions: 17; Penalties: 42; Drop Goals: 1

Has scored 40 points (5 conversions and 10 penalties) in 6 previous Tests against FranceHumphreys is Ireland’s all-time record points scorer with 560 pointsHe is the second most-capped Ireland player of all-time behind Malcolm O’Kelly (76) – it will be the Ulster fly half’s 73rd cap if he plays on SaturdayHumphreys, in his number 10 duel with Ronan O’Gara, has had three spells as first choice fly half, in 1999, 2002 and 2003Since the end of the 2003 World Cup, 8 of Humphreys’ 12 Irish caps have come as a replacementCaptained Ireland v Italy in 2002 and for the fifth time in last November’s win against RomaniaWas captain of Ulster for their Heineken Cup win in 1999 – scored a Cup record 37 points against Wasps in October 2001

ANDREW TRIMBLE (BALLYMENA/ULSTER)

Date of Birth: 20 October 1984
Height: 188cm (6ft 2ins)
Weight: 91kg (14st 3lbs)

2005/06 Form: Ireland: Games Played: 2 (v Australia, Romania); Points: 10; Tries: 2 (v Romania)
Ulster: Games Played: 16; Points: 30; Tries: 6

Will hope for his 3rd cap – first as a replacement – against FranceThis is Trimble’s first 6 Nations ChampionshipHe earned his first call-up to the Irish squad last November – started the Tests against Australia and Romania, scoring 2 tries against the eastern EuropeansHas shot to prominence in only his second season with Ulster, forming a strong midfield partnership with Ireland veteran Kevin MaggsAlways highly regarded, having impressed as an Ireland Schools and Under-21 internationalHe is currently studying part-time for a Theology degree….

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