Ulster wing Andrew Trimble is injury doubt for Ireland

RBS SIX NATIONS - FRANCE v IRELAND
Venue: Stade de France Date: Saturday, 13 February Kick-off: 1630 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC HD channel, Red Button and online; Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; Live text commentary and score updates on BBC Sport website

Andrew Trimble could miss the crunch game against France

Ireland wing Andrew Trimble remains an injury concern for Saturday's Six Nations clash against France in Paris.

Trimble has a strained hamstring while his Ulster team-mate Stephen Ferris is also a doubt with a knee injury.

Ronan O'Gara and Paul O'Connell were injured against Italy but are expected to be included when coach Declan Kidney announces his 22-man squad on Tuesday.

Fly-half Jonathan Sexton and lock Donncha O'Callaghan are also both on course to be available for selection.

If Trimble fails to make it, Keith Earls - who replaced Trimble against Italy - is likely to be handed his first Six Nations start.

Wings Aurelien Rougerie and Benjamin Fall and prop Luc Ducalcon all face fitness tests for France after picking up injuries in their opening 8-9 victory over Scotland.

606: DEBATE I think every Irish supporter wants Ferris back in the team as soon as he is fit stothet

But coach Marc Lievremont has named an unchanged 23-man squad for the Stade de France clash, with prop Sylvain Marconnet the extra man on duty with the 22 at Murrayfield.

"It's been a while since there was continuity in the France team, given injuries and dips in form," said Lievremont, who will confirm his starting line-up on Wednesday.

Lievremont believes his side will have to show far greater ruthlessness than they did against Scotland, despite comfortably keeping the hosts at arms' length.

"It is true that we were disappointed," added the coach. "I believe we were in their half for 60-65% of the match, and had 55% possession.

"We failed to kill the match. It is imperative that we do better, especially as Ireland have more weapons than the Scots.

"We know that with the left foot of (Rob) Kearney, (Ronan) O'Gara's vision in directing play and similarly (Brian) O'Driscoll's, not to mention their superb scrum, they will pose us many problems."

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Ireland extended squad:

Forwards: Tony Buckley, Tom Court, Marcus Horan, Cian Healy, John Hayes; Rory Best, Jerry Flannery; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Leo Cullen, Donnacha Ryan, Dan Tuohy; Stephen Ferris, Shane Jennings, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry.

Backs: Rob Kearney, Gavin Duffy; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy, Andrew Trimble; Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Gordon D'Arcy, Paddy Wallace; Ronan O'Gara, Jonathan Sexton; Tomas O'Leary, Eoin Reddan.

France squad:

Forwards: T Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), L Ducalcon (Castres), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), W Servat (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing-Metro), J Pierre (Clermont Auvergne), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier).

Backs: M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), F Michalak (Toulouse), M Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), D Marty (Perpignan), V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), B Fall (Bayonne), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse).