Eddie O'Sullivan has handed Eoin Reddan, the Wasps scrum-half, a surprise call-up to the Ireland side for Friday night's pivotal Pool D encounter with France. Reddan is one of three new faces in an Ireland team which, with O'Sullivan determined to ring the changes after the disappointing display against Georgia, will also feature winger Andrew Trimble and hooker Jerry Flannery.

Having begun the tournament as third choice behind Peter Stringer and Isaac Boss, Reddan, who won a European Cup medal with Wasps earlier this year, is set to claim his fourth cap after making his debut as a replacement against France last year. Boss, who came off the bench in Ireland's games against Namibia and Georgia, was again named as a replacement.

Reddan's unexpected inclusion means there is no place at all for Stringer, the veteran Munster scrum-half who, with 79 caps, is second only to Malcolm O'Kelly in the international appearance stakes.

With Denis Hickie struggling for fitness after sustaining a bruised knee against Georgia, Trimble will start on the left flank. Flannery, meanwhile, will replace the injured Rory Best, the Ulster front row who has been ruled out for three weeks after dislocating his right thumb against Georgia. It will be Flannery's first World Cup start.

Full Ireland team to face France at Stade de France, Paris, on Friday, September 15 (2000 BST): G Dempsey (Leinster); S Horgan (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); R O'Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps); M Horan (Munster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster). Replacements: F Sheahan (Munster), S Best (Ulster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), N Best (Ulster), I Boss (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster), G Duffy (Connacht).