Ireland v France: Teams
Cian Healy insists Ireland are desperate to topple France in Dublin on Saturday.
Last Updated: 19/08/11 4:03pm
Leinster prop Cian Healy insists Ireland are desperate to topple France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, even though there is nothing riding on the game.
The 19-12 loss in Bordeaux last Saturday will be fresh in the memory when Ireland host their rivals in the second of their two meetings arranged in preparation for the World Cup.
Having lost both of warm-up games to date, good performances are required against France and England, who visit Dublin a week later, to establish some momentum for New Zealand.
Balancing the benefits of a confidence-boosting victory over strong opposition is the pressing need for key players Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Stephen Ferris to be restored to match fitness after injury lay-offs.
Result matters
While Healy concedes there is nothing tangible on the line over the next eight days, he stresses winning remains imperative.
"This the same as any game. It doesn't matter if it's just before the World Cup or at the end of the season, you still want to win it," he said.
"You go out to win. Do we do-or-die need it? No, but every player wants to go out to win and that's a good place for Ireland to be in.
"I don't know if these losing games will affect confidence.
"I've never been in the situation of going into such a big competition, but when you're on a roll winning games you feel good.
"You go out to win in an Ireland jersey. You never go out to lose."
Ireland were forced into a late change to their starting XV when David Wallace picked up a hamstring injury in training.
Shane Jennings comes into the back row in place of Wallace, whose injury is not believed to be serious.
Lock Paul O'Connell and number eight Jamie Heaslip will be making their first starts of the summer.
The front row of Mike Ross, Rory Best and Healy will de deployed en bloc for a second successive week with the latter grateful for another pipe opener.
"Bordeaux was my first blow-out of the season. My body was struggling a bit and I was trying to keep up," said Healy.
"Some bits of my game I was happy with and some bits need to be fixed up.
"Hopefully those things will be ironed out for Saturday."
Wholesale changes
France coach Marc Lievremont has made 13 changes for his side's final World Cup warm-up fixture.
Wing Alexis Palisson and hooker Dimitri Szarzewski are the only players to retain their places in the starting XV from last week's victory over the same opponents.
Aurelien Rougerie returns after overcoming an ankle injury and will partner Fabrice Estebanez in midfield.
Cedric Heyman and Maxime Medard form the back three with Palisson, while David Skrela and Morgan Parra are the half-back combination.
With props William Servat and Thomas Domingo injured, Nicolas Mas and Jean Baptiste Poux pack down either side of Szarzewski.
Lock Lionel Nallet is captain in Thierry Dusautoir's absence, while Fulgence Ouedraogo, Julien Bonnaire and Louis Picamoles have the chance to impress in the back row.
Ireland: F Jones (Munster); A Trimble (Ulster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster), T O'Leary (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S O'Brien (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster)
Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), T Court (Ulster), M McCarthy (Connacht), S Ferris (Ulster), E Reddan (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster)
France: C Heymans; M Medard, A Rougerie, F Estebanez, A Palisson; D Skrela, M Parra; J-B Poux, D Szarzewski, N Mas, P Pape, L Nallet (capt), F Ouedraogo, J Bonnaire, L Picamoles
Replacements: G Guirado, F Barcella, J Pierre, R Lakafia, D Yachvili, D Marty, V Clerc.
