THE GOOD news from the Ireland camp is Jonny Sexton was cleared to train yesterday at the RDS Showgrounds in Dublin after recovering from what proved a troublesome dead leg.
This reopens the outhalf debate, with Ronan O’Gara still nursing his right knee, but more serious concerns are putting a strain on the Ireland talent pool ahead of a visit to Stade de France, where victory has not been tasted since Brian O’Driscoll’s magic day back in the spring of 2000.
There will be a slightly clearer medical update by lunchtime today but Ulster duo Stephen Ferris (knee/leg) and Andrew Trimble (hamstring) remain doubts ahead of what appears the definitive Six Nations encounter next Saturday.
Like Ferris, Donncha O’Callaghan has a knee complaint but the rambunctious Munster secondrow is due to return alongside Paul O’Connell, also likely to recover from blurred vision, despite a decent showing from Leinster captain Leo Cullen in the 29-11 defeat of Italy.
Trimble’s hamstring is to be further assessed but with Shane Horgan not drafted back into the extended squad this week, Keith Earls is next in line to take the wing spot.
That would leave a place on the bench that Horgan’s current form and versatility would surely be favoured to fill, although Gavin Duffy, Johne Murphy and Denis Hurley were the wingers drafted in for training. Or Paddy Wallace and an outhalf may be accommodated in reserve.
Should Ferris fail to recover, Kevin McLaughlin would be retained at blindside flanker, with Shane Jennings’s experience considered against a third Leinster flanker, Seán O’Brien.
The 35 year-old Alan Quinlan has, despite his current rich form, not been considered.
“Stephen Ferris been able to put weight on his leg but he hasn’t run strongly on it yet,” explained Ireland manager Paul McNaughton.
“He did a little bit when he came down here last week, on Monday and Tuesday, but he’s been off his feet for the rest of the week and he’s down here. We’ll know in the next couple of days.”
This is an indication that, considering his world class performances of late, the Ulster flanker may be selected today with a final decision postponed to allow a few more days of recuperation.
“Ronan had a bang on his knee, Tomás (O’Leary) had a dead leg and Paul had a bang on his eye,” McNaughton added. “They’ll all take part in training today at some stage and we expect them to be fit.
“Andrew Trimble is a bit of a worry because he came off with a strained hamstring, and obviously Donncha and Stephen Ferris are more of a concern. But at this stage we’re not ruling anyone out for selection.”
Meanwhile, French coach Marc Lièvremont raised a few eyebrows yesterday by naming the same 23 players that travelled to Edinburgh for their opening 18-9 defeat of Scotland last Sunday – a surprise as he has developed a reputation for wholesale changes.
A team will be released today with minor concern surrounding wingers Aurélien Rougerie (sprained neck), Benjamin Fall and prop Luc Ducalcon. Former captain Lionel Nallet was the 23rd man in Murrayfield but the 33 year-old lock may yet come back into the match day squad.
France squad:Forwards: T Domingo (Clermont), L Ducalcon (Castres), S Marconnet (Stade Français), N Mas (Perpignan), W Servat (Stade Toulousain), D Szarzewski (Stade Français), P Pap (Stade Français), L Nallet (Racing-Metro), J Pierre (Clermont), J Bonnaire (Clermont), T Dusautoir (Stade Toulousain), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier). Backs: M Parra (Clermont), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), F Michalak (Stade Toulousain), M Bastareaud (Stade Français), Y Jauzion (Stade Toulousain), D Marty (Perpignan), V Clerc (Stade Toulousain), A Rougerie (Clermont), B Fall (Bayonne), C Poitrenaud (Stade Toulousain)
