Ferris fit for Paris collission

Stephen Ferris has been passed fit for Ireland's Six nations clash with France on Saturday.

The Ulster talisman will slot in at blindside flanker after he missed out on the opening weekend win over Italy with a knee injury. Debutant in that game, Kevin McLaughlin is the man to make way, the Leinster flanker not even making the match day squad of 22 as his provincial teammate Sean O'Brien is chosen ahead of him.

Donncha O'Callaghan and Andrew Trimble had both been marked doubtful for the Paris showdown and neither is deemed fit enough to make the bench meaning Donncha Ryan and Paddy Wallace are chosen to provide cover.

Things are beginning to heat up before the clash of the pre-tournament favourites and hosting coach Marc Lièvremont has stoked the fire, claiming that the current champions play the "most negative rugby" in the tournament.

Lièvremont has made only two enforced changes from the victory at Murrayfield, with Alexis Palisson drafted in, to "act as a second fullback," and Vincent Clerc Replacing Benjamin Fall on the opposite wing. Lièvremont believes the inclusion of Palisson will be the key to thwarting the O'Gara driven Ireland:

"It will be crucial to tackle the efficient Irish kicking game, and notably that of Ronan O'Gara. He will try to keep the pressure on us and keep us in our own 30 meters"

With both teams finalised, Declan Kidneys squad will fly to Charles De Gaulles airport today hoping to reach lucky number 13 in their unbeaten run of games, which stretches back to November 2008 when New Zealand ran out 22-3 victors at Croke Park.

France team: Clement Poitrenaud, Vincent Clerc, Mathieu Bastareaud, Yannick Jauzion, Alexis Palisson, Francois Trinh-Duc, Morgan Parra, Thomas Domingo, William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Fulgence Ouedraogo, Imanol Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Sylvain Marconnet, Julien Pierre, Julien Bonnaire, Frederic Michalak, David Marty, Julien Malzieu.

Ireland: Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary , Cian Healy, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Leo Cullen, Paul O'Connell, Stephen Ferris, David Wallace, Jaimie Heaslip.
Replacements: Rory Best, Tom Court, Donncha Ryan, Sean O'Brien, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Paddy Wallace.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

KO: Saturday 16:30