Ireland recall Earls for Six Nations

10 Feb 2012, 1:08 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Ireland have made just one change for the Six Nations rugby clash with France.

Ireland recalled centre Keith Earls on Thursday in the only change to their starting side for this weekend's Six Nations clash away to France in Paris.

Earls was included after being withdrawn from last Sunday's tournament-opening 23-21 loss to Wales in Dublin as his girlfriend had given birth to their first child in the build-up to the match at Lansdowne Road.

Fergus McFadden, who took Earls's place against Wales, dropped down to the bench with replacement back Dave Kearney, brother of Ireland full-back Rob, now out of the match-day 22 entirely for Saturday's clash at the Stade de France.

Lock Paul O'Connell was again named as captain in the ongoing absence of star centre Brian O'Driscoll, out for the tournament with a shoulder injury.

Stephen Ferris was included at blindside flanker in coach Declan Kidney's side just a day after a disciplinary hearing rejected a citing complaint against the Ulster back-row that, if upheld, could have seen him suspended.

Ferris was controversially yellow-carded by English referee Wayne Barnes in the closing stages last weekend, allowing Wales's Leigh Halfpenny to kick a match-winning penalty.

Tournament favourites France saw coach Phillipe Saint-Andre make four changes to his pack from the side that beat Italy 30-12 last Saturday when he announced his team earlier this week.

And the World Cup finalists were forced into a switch in their back division on Friday when Morgan Parra replaced the injured Dimitri Yachvili at scrum-half.

Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien , Stephen Ferris, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mike Ross, Rory Best, Cian Healy. Subs: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O'Mahony, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Fergus McFadden.

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