IRFU Live Blog: France v Ireland
Join us for live text commentary of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with les Bleus at the Stade de France today (kick-off 3.25pm local time/2.25pm Irish time), as Joe Schmidt’s men chase their first win of the new campaign.
On the couch, in the clubhouse, on the move? You can follow all the action from France v Ireland with our IRFU Live Blog this afternoon.
If you don’t have a ticket for Ireland’s much-anticipated clash with the French (kick-off 3.25pm local time/2.25pm Irish time), you can keep track of the game on our IRFU Live Blog, featuring:
– Live match updates and all the build-up from the Stade de France
– Your tweets and photos
– In-game player and team statistics from Accenture
– Post-match reaction from Joe Schmidt and the players
Today’s round 2 fixture in Paris is being broadcast live on RTÉ Two, BBC One, RTÉ Radio 1 and BBC Radio Ulster. You can follow every tackle and try on the IRFU Live Blog – #ShouldertoShoulder and #FRAvIRE.
Head coach Joe Schmidt has made three changes to the side which drew 16-all with Wales. The fit-again Sean O’Brien comes into the back row with Tommy O’Donnell reverting to the bench.
Brothers Dave and Rob Kearney are both included in the backs, with the injured duo of Keith Earls and Simon Zebo making way. New to the bench this week are Richardt Strauss, Eoin Reddan and Fergus McFadden.
Ireland’s starting line-up has 566 Test caps between them; the bench has a further 187 caps. The average age of the walk-on team is 29.6 years, while the average on the bench is 28.9.