France v Ireland preview

Louis Picamoles has been recalled by Philippe Saint Andre to face Ireland on Saturday but the Toulouse No.8 will start at blindside for France.
Picamoles, who was dropped for the Scotland game following his sarcastic clapping of referee Alain Roland in Cardiff three weeks ago, returns to the starting XV that shows four changes from the one that narrowly beat the Scots.
Picamoles replaces Sebastien Vahaamina with Dimitri Szarzewski getting the nod at hooker over Brice Mach who drops out of the squad on the back of his disastrous display at Murrayfield.
Jules Plissons is also dropped with Top14 winning fly-half Remi Tales starting and teenage sensation Gael Fickou named at 12 instead of Maxime Mermoz.
Despite poor form, France have won three of their four games and can still win the Six Nations but need to beat Ireland while England lose in Italy.
Meanwhile, Peter O’Mahony returns to the Ireland starting XV having recovered from the hamstring strain that kept him sidelined for the Italy game.
He returns at blindside flanker in place of Iain Henderson who reverts to the bench.
In a side full of experience, captain Paul O’Connell will win his 92nd cap while Brian O’Driscoll is set to make his 133rd appearance for the men in Green.
France: Brice Dulin; Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Maxime Medard; Remi Tales Maxime Machenaud; Thomas Domingo, Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas; Pascal Pape (Capt.), Yoann Maestri; Louis Picamoles, Alexandre Lapandry, Damien Chouly.
Replacements: Guilhem Guirado, Vincent Debaty, Rabah Slimani, Alexandre Flanquart, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Jean-Marc Doussain, Maxime Mermoz.
Ireland: Rob Kearney (Leinster); Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Dave Kearney (Leinster); Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro), Conor Murray (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Mike Ross (Leinster); Devin Toner (Leinster), Paul O’Connell (Munster, Capt.); Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Martin Moore (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster).