Leinster flanker Shane Jennings will start for Ireland against France tomorrow after David Wallace was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Jennings was originally meant to have lined out in the number seven jersey for Ireland against Connacht last night, but was replaced by Niall Ronan after it emerged that Wallace was a major doubt to face the French. Ireland came out on top 38-3 over the Westerners in Donnybrook.
With Wallace’s fitness in doubt, the back row is beginning to become a major concern for Declan Kidney, as the veteran Munster flanker and long-term absentee Stephen Ferris have yet to feature this month, while Jennings will play for the first time since sustaining a serious arm injury at the tail end of last season.
Jennings, who proved to be an inspirational figure when brought on as a half-time substitute in Leinster’s Heineken Cup Final victory over Northampton last season, will complete an all-Leinster back row which also includes Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in what is a strong Irish side overall.
Kidney’s men will be looking to avenge the 19-12 defeat to France in Bordeaux last Saturday and claim their first win of the August series in the process. The game kicks off at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow at 5pm.
Ireland team to play France: Jones; Trimble, O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Earls; Sexton, O’Leary; Healy, Best, Ross; O’Callaghan, O’Connell; O’Brien, Jennings, Heaslip.
Replacements: Flannery, Court, McCarthy, Ferris, Reddan, O’Gara, Fitzgerald.
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