O'Driscoll injury blow for Ireland

Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll has failed to recover from his hamstring strain and will miss Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash with France at Croke Park.

Shane Horgan will replace O'Driscoll in midfield, with Geordan Murphy promoted from the bench to the right wing. Andrew Trimble fills the vacancy among the substitutes.

Ulster half-back Isaac Boss will take the place of veteran Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer, who has been ruled out with a fractured hand.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: "Brian was close to being fit but felt a tightening of the hamstring.

"Emotionally pulling him out was a difficult decision to make, but it was an easy one from a practical point of view."