Declan Kidney had made just one change to the Ireland side for Saturday night’s Six Nations clash against France at Stade de France, with Keith Earls replacing Fergus McFadden at outside centre.

McFadden drops to the bench and David Kearney drops out following Earls’s return to the side after he missed the opening defeat to Wales for personal reasons.

Earls was named in the starting XV for the 23-21 defeat at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday only to be withdrawn when his new-born baby girl was admitted into hospital with an unspecified illness.

Coach Declan Kidney has kept faith with halfbacks Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray while Stephen Ferris continues at blindside flanker after yesterday being cleared by a disciplinary hearing of tip-tackling Wales lock Ian Evans.

“Keith’s been bubbling away since he’s been back with us and has trained well. It was tough on Fergus to lose out,” Kidney said.

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell believes Ireland have to limit the errors in Paris is they are to stand a chance of gaining their first victory there since 2000 and Brian O’Driscoll’s famous hat-trick of tries.

“There’s a lot we have to improve on. Some of the silly errors we made against Wales we must cut out,” said O’Connell.

“Against France away from home you need to start well. It’s frustrating that I haven’t beaten France in Paris, but we have a team that can do it.”

IRELAND (v France):R Kearney; T Bowe, K Earls, G D'Arcy, A Trimble; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt), S Ferris, S O'Brien, J Heaslip.

Replacements:S Cronin, T Court, D Ryan, P O'Mahony, E Reddan, F McFadden, R O'Gara.