October 9, 2015
Rugby World Cup Lineups: France v Ireland
Doug Coil
October 11, 2015
France v Ireland, Pool D, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Kick off 16:45- 11:450am ET
Referee: Nigel Owens Assistant Referee: Wayne Barnes, Leighton Hodges; TV Match Official: Graham Hughes
France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made 2 changes to his starting XV from the win against Canada. Number eight Louis Picamoles and wing Noa Nakaitaci return to the starting lineup. Damien Chouly switches from number eight to openside flanker.
Picamoles will win his 50th cap, becoming the 53rd player to do so.
This is a key match against Ireland, as the victor wins the Pool. France has fielded a strong side with both World Cup and Six nations experience.
Ireland will also field a very experienced side with 804 caps, the second highest total. The side is also one its oldest at just under 30 years.
Paul O’Connell will equal Brian O’Driscoll’s Rugby World Cup caps record of 17 when he takes the field.
There are three changes to the starting XV that beat Italy. Cian Healy, Devin Toner, and Rob Kearney are starters.
Of note, the front-row of Healy, Best, and Ross will start together for the 30th time. The all time test record is 36.
There are several other players that are also nearing milestones. If Eoin Reddan enters the match, it will be his 10th RWC appearance. Jonathan Sexton needs four points to equal 50 RWC points. Ian Madigan needs six points to reach 100 test points. Keith Earls can extend his record of eight RWC tries. (RWC2015)
France Ranked 6th: HC Philippe Saint-Andre Starters: 1. Eddy Ben Arous 2. Guilhem Guirado 3. Rabah Slimani 4. Pascal Pape 5. Yoann Maestri 6. Thierry Dusautoir (c) 7. Damien Chouly 8. Louis Picamoles 9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
10. Frederic Michalak 11. Brice Dulin 12. Wesley Fofana 13. Mathieu Bastareaud 14. Noa Nakaitaci 15. Scott Spedding Replacements: 16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Nicolas Mas 19. Alexandre Flanquart 20. Bernard Le Roux 21. Morgan Parra 22. Remi Tales 23. Alexandre Dumoulin
Ireland Ranked 5th: HC Starters: 1. Cian Healy 2. Rory Best 3. Mike Ross 4. Devin Toner 5. Paul O’Connell (c) 6. Peter O’Mahony 7. Sean O’Brien 8. Jamie Heaslip 9. Conor Murray 10. Jonathan Sexton 11. Dave Kearney 12. Robbie Henshaw 13. Keith Earls 14. Tommy Bowe 15. Rob Kearney Replacements: 16. Richardt Strauss 17. Jack McGrath 18. Nathan White 19. Iain Henderson 20. Chris Henry 21. Eoin Reddan 22. Ian Madigan 23. Luke Fitzgerald
