Ireland team named for French Test

The Ireland team to play France in Round 4 of the Guinness Six Nations Championship at Aviva Stadium on Sunday afternoon has been named. Rory Best and Iain Henderson return to the starting line-up, while Jacob Stockdale is also included. John Cooney is selected among the replacements Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are named at half-back with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose filling the midfield berths. Rob Kearney is set to win his 90th cap on Sunday afternoon and he is joined in the backfield by Keith Earls and Stockdale. Best will captain the side and is joined in the front row by Cian Healy and Tadgh Furlong. Henderson and James Ryan are partnered in the second row, with Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander named in the backrow. The replacements are Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Ultan Dillane, Jack Conan, Cooney, Jack Carty and Jordan Larmour. Ireland team and replacements to play France, Guinness Six Nations Championship, Aviva Stadium, Sunday 10th March, 3.00pm): 15. Rob Kearney (UCD / Leinster) 89 caps 14. Keith Earls (Young Munster / Munster) 75 caps 13. Garry Ringrose (UCD / Leinster) 18 caps 12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians / Connacht) 15 caps 11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan / Ulster) 17 caps 10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College / Leinster) 81 caps (vc) 9. Conor Murray (Garryowen / Munster) 70 caps 1. Cian Healy (Clontarf / Leinster) 86 caps 2. Rory Best (Banbridge / Ulster) 115 caps (c) 3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf / Leinster) 31 caps 4. Iain Henderson (Queen's University / Ulster) 43 caps 5. James Ryan (UCD / Leinster) 15 caps 6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution / Munster) 55 caps (vc) 7. Josh van der Flier (UCD / Leinster) 16 caps 8. CJ Stander (Shannon / Munster) 29 caps Replacements: 16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin / Munster) 12 caps 17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians / Munster) 27 caps 18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution / Munster) 17 caps 19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians / Connacht) 13 caps 20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere / Leinster) 12 caps 21. John Cooney (Terenure College / Ulster) 7 caps 22. Jack Carty (Buccaneers / Connacht) 1 cap 23. Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College / Leinster) 11 caps