Vacancies left for O'Driscoll and Stringer in Irish team

[Published: Wednesday 7, February 2007 - 12:19]
Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan has left vacancies in his team to face France in the Six Nations this weekend pending late fitness tests on Brian O'Driscoll and Peter Stringer.

O'Driscoll is nursing a hamstring strain, while Stringer has a hairline fracture in a bone in his hand.

Elsewhere, Leinster wing Shane Horgan returns from a knee injury in place of Andrew Trimble in the only other change from the starting 15 that beat Wales last weekend.

Should O'Driscoll fail to probe his fitness for Sunday's Croke Park showdown, Geordan Murphy will come onto the wing, with Horgan moving to centre to partner Gordon D'Arcy.

If Stringer is unavailable, Isaac Boss will start the game, with Eoin Reddan coming onto the bench.

Jamie Heaslip has also been named as a possible replacement as a precaution for Denis Leamy, while the team will be led by Paul O'Connell if Brian O'Driscoll does not play.

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