Ireland's hopes of recording back-to-back victories in Paris for the first time since 1914 were enhanced yesterday when their fit-again captain and hooker Keith Wood was named in the squad to face France next week having missed the Six Nations campaign so far because of a calf strain.
Wood has proved his fitness with Harlequins and another Irish Lion, the centre Rob Henderson, has recovered from a groin injury to bolster the midfield in the absence of Bath's Kevin Maggs.
The France coach Bernard Laporte will field the team that defeated Scotland at Murrayfield last Saturday, even though the prop Pieter de Villiers and the second-row David Auradou, who missed that win because of injury, are expected to be fit again.
Italy will be without the prop Salvatore Perugini for the visit of England. He has been handed a 20-week ban following a head butt on Ireland's Peter Stringer in their last outing.
Martin Johnson will be available to return to the England side after missing last Saturday's stroll against Wales because of suspension. His return starts on Sunday when Leicester travel to Wasps and his enforced rest for punching the Saracens hooker Robbie Russell has not mellowed his mood. The second-row yesterday criticised the organisers of the Six Nations for not synchronising the final round of matches and attacked the Rugby Football Union for its proposed crackdown on violent play.
"The decision to split up next week's championship matches is terrible," said Johnson. "There is a possibility that it will take away from the drama, not to mention the fact that the big travelling England support will have to be back at work the next day."
Johnson was no happier about the disciplinary system in England, saying he was not sure the new zero-tolerance policy on acts of foul play due to come into force next season would work and that he would not be changing his style of play.
Rotherham's hopes of not being ambushed by the Premiership and refused promotion at the end of the season grew yesterday when they announced a groundshare agreement with Rotherham United at Millmoor from September. The Bristol flanker Adam Vander is unlikely to play again this season after being involved in a car crash.
France squad (v Ireland):
Backs: Galthié (Stade Français), Mignoni (Beziers), Bory (Montferrand), Merceron (Montferrand), Gelez (Agen), Traille (Pau), Marsh (Montferrand), Rougerie (Montferrand), Marlu (Montferrand), Brusque (Biarritz), Glas (Bourgoin).
Forwards: Crenca (Agen), De Villiers (Stade Français), Milloud (Bourgoin), Ibanez (Castres), Azam (Gloucester), Brouzet (Northampton), Pelous (Toulouse), Privat (Béziers), Betsen (Biarritz), Harinordoquy (Pau), Magne (Montferrand), Martin (Stade Français), Hall (Béziers), Poux (Narbonne).
Ireland squad (v France):
Backs: Dempsey (Leinster), G Easterby (Llanelli), Henderson (Munster), Hickie (Leinster), Horgan (Leinster), Howe (Ulster), Humphreys (Ulster), Kelly (Munster), O'Driscoll (Leinster), O'Gara (Munster), Stringer (Munster).
Forwards: Byrne (Leinster), Clohessy (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli), Foley (Munster), Hayes (Munster), Longwell (Ulster), Miller (Leinster), O'Connell (Munster), O'Kelly (Leinster), Sheahan (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), P Wallace (Leinster), Wood (Harlequins).
Scotland squad (v Wales):
Backs: Beveridge (Glasgow), Hodge (Edinburgh), Laney (Edinburgh), J Leslie (Nothampton), Logan (Wasps), McLaren (Glasgow), Metcalfe (Glasgow), Paterson (Edinburgh), Redpath (Sale), Townsend (Castres).
Forwards: Bulloch (Glasgow), Graham (Newcastle), Grimes (Falcons), M Leslie (Edinburgh), Murray (Saracens), Petrie (Glasgow), Pountney (Northampton), Russell (Saracens), Smith (Northampton), Stewart (Northampton), Taylor (Edinburgh), White (Glasgow).
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