Eddie O'Sullivan's decision to opt for a young team has guaranteed more than a frisson of interest in tonight's fixture. The tradition with A games has long been to plump for a second-string side, but given a limited number of these fixtures, the Ireland head coach has changed the emphasis to blooding talent.

It's an excellent decision that offers opportunities to a galaxy of young aspirants. Gavin Duffy, for example, has languished just outside the radar while playing for Harlequins in English rugby's second tier.

The late withdrawal of wing Ian Dowling is tough on the 23-year-old, who is enjoying a superb season with Munster, but it gives the former under-21 international John Hearty a mid-season fillip.

Conor McPhillips - a player of rare pace and an excellent finisher - should have been given a match on the summer tour of Japan and can drive home the point tonight.

It'll be interesting to see how Kieran Lewis and Barry Murphy gel in midfield, as both are ostensibly outside centres. Lewis will probably be handed the number 12 jersey and certainly has the footballing nous to fill it.

Jeremy Staunton has revived his career at Wasps but now needs to kick on again, and this could be the perfect occasion. His partnership with Tomás O'Leary will be pivotal not only to the final result but also to the fate of the backs in general.

Ray Hogan and Bryan Young, propping tyros, will get a stern examination of their basic skills as well as their aptitude for test rugby.

John Fogarty is given a deserved run, and for secondrows Mick O'Driscoll and Matt McCullough it's a chance to apply pressure on those above them.

O'Driscoll, who leads the team, has been in superb form for Munster. McCullough has been hampered by injury.

There appears an exciting balance to the back row, the abrasive qualities of Neil Best complementing the scavenging instincts of Shane Jennings and the ball carrying of Jamie Heaslip.

Best is a little unlucky not to be in the mix for the senior side. As well as being combative he has a knack for scoring tries.

Jennings has been exceptional for Leicester since his summer move. Despite the squad-rotation policy at Welford Road, the former Leinster openside rarely gets a breather.

Heaslip has been a revelation in his first season at Leinster, delivering on the potential he showed as an underage international.

Coach Michael Bradley - assisted by Allen Clarke - has only had a few days to work on patterns but has communicated to the players to have a real go. They may lack the familiarity that is only forged over time but certainly don't lack quality.

France won't confirm their team until today but in essence this match is really about Irish rugby and its future.

Ireland crossed for five tries in Athlone last Friday night to beat Italy 34-9 but it was the French dismantling of Scotland (35-0) that set alarm bells ringing ahead of this afternoon's under-21 game in Strasbourg, writes Gavin Cummiskey.

While some way off the 2004 vintage, the current Irish crop are a marked improvement on last year.

Coach Mark McDermott believes Ireland can equal France in close combat, so the main concern, as Scotland learned, is turnover ball.

The lineout is a key attacking platform, assuming captain Stuart Philpott regularly finds the 6ft 10in Devin Toner, as this will allow outhalf Jonathan Sexton to control the contest.

Equally, a backrow containing the tearaway Ejike Uzoigwe and the Munster pair Billy Holland and Ross Noonan must break even in the loose.

The game is also a useful reconnaissance mission ahead of the World Cup this summer. Ireland's opening game is against the hosts.

"That's where it becomes really key," said McDermott. "If we can win down here now, our confidence coming back to France for the World Cup will be sky high."

IRELAND A (v France): G Duffy (Harlequins); J Hearty (Connacht), K Lewis (Leinster), B Murphy (Munster), C McPhillips (Connacht); J Staunton (Wasps), T O'Leary (Munster); R Hogan (Connacht), J Fogarty (Connacht), B Young (Ulster); M O'Driscoll (Munster, capt), M McCullough (Ulster); N Best (Ulster), S Jennings (Leicester), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: B Blaney (Leinster), R McCormack (Leinster), L Cullen (Leicester), R Wilson (Ulster), C Keane (Connacht), P Wallace (Ulster), B Cunningham (Ulster).

IRELAND Under-21s (v France, today, Strasbourg, 1.30pm): F Carr; M Williams, D Cave, C Doyle, P Durcan; J Sexton, P Marshall; D Hurley, S Philpott (capt), P Doran-Jones; D Toner, D Touhy; R Noonan, E Uzoigwe, B Holland. Replacements: S Cronan, C Black, D McGowan, S O'Brien, D Williams, T Gleeson, F McFadden.