Four Munster men in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland XV to face France

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt has named his Ireland side to face France in this weekend’s Six Nations clash.

There are seven changes in total to the side that faced Italy with six Munster men included in the squad.

Peter O’Mahony continues as flanker while CJ Stander comes back into the side at No.8 after suffering injury against England in Round 1.

Conor Murray and Keith Earls start in the backline for Ireland.

There is an all-Munster front row named among the replacements with Tadgh Beirne very unfortunate to miss out.

Ireland Team & Replacements (v France, Guinness Six Nations Championship, Aviva Stadium, Sunday 10th March, KO 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 Marys 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 (Queens 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 

Replacements16. 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