Impressive performances have been rewarded by Joe Schmidt.
After the painstakingly long week which yielded no Six Nations rugby, excitement is now beginning to build for Ireland’s eagerly anticipated clash with France at the Aviva Stadium.
It promises to be a very interesting encounter, with France unlucky to lose against England in Twickenham and recording a hard-fought victory over Scotland, the away side could prove quite tricky opposition for Schmidt’s men.
This, in addition to the fact that results between these two sides are historically very close, means that we can expect another tough and probably bruising encounter against our French counterparts.
Of course, there has been plenty of Pro12 action in the interim to give Schmidt food for thought with regards to who could be in his plans for the third round of this year’s championship.
It was a clean sweep for the Irish provinces at the weekend and some players were rewarded for their impressive displays.
Tommy O’Donnell and Dan Leavy who both produced impressive numbers in their respective matches at the weekend, are included with Josh van der Flier absent after the shoulder injury he suffered against Edinburgh.
Joey Carbery, who made a successful return from injury has been left out at the expense of Munster’s Ian Keatley and Quinn Roux replaces his provincial teammate Ultan Dillane.
Here is the 34-man squad in full.
Forwards:
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (Captain), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster), Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Con/Munster), Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)
Backs:
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Craig Gilroy (Bangor/Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Tiernan O’Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
