Kearney To Start For Ireland

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has confirmed that Rob Kearney will start at full-back for Ireland in their opening game of the 2009 RBS 6 Nations against France at Croke Park on Saturday.

Rob Kearney had picked up an ankle injury earlier in the week but has responded well to treatment and took part in training yesterday and again this morning with no adverse reaction.

Kearney, who made his Six Nations debut during last year’s tournament, has been ever-present in the starting line-up since then and has scored four tries in his 11 appearences to date.

IRELAND TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v France, 2009 RBS 6 Nations Championship, Croke Park, Saturday, February 7, kick-off 5pm):

15 – Robert Kearney (UCD – Leinster)

14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD – Leinster) (capt)

12 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena – Ulster)

11 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College – Leinster)

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

9 – Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin – Munster)

1 – Marcus Horan (Shannon – Munster)

2 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon – Munster)

3 – John Hayes (Bruff- Munster)

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

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

6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon – Ulster)

7 – David Wallace (Garryowen – Munster)

8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas – Leinster)

Replacements:

16 – Rory Best (Banbridge – Ulster)
17 – Tom Court (Malone – Ulster)
18 – Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College – Leinster)
19 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution – Munster)
20 – Peter Stringer (Shannon – Munster)
21 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne – Leinster)
22 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester) 

Player Profiles – click here.