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Rugby coach Kidney relaxed over starting O'Gara
February 10, 2010

Ireland Ireland's rugby head coach, Declan Kidney
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Ireland coach Declan Kidney has no qualms about starting with Ronan O'Gara in the Grand Slam champions' Six Nations match away to France on Saturday.

The veteran fly-half was named on Tuesday in the starting side for the Paris clash even though rising star Jonathan Sexton, who kicked all of Ireland's points in their 15-10 win over world champions South Africa in November, is nearing full fitness.

Sexton's 'dead leg' ruled him out of Ireland's 29-11 tournament opening win against Italy in Dublin last weekend - a match where O'Gara kicked 16 points.

However, the Leinster stand-off is among a group of nine replacements who are set to be whittled down to the required seven by Thursday.

O'Gara will be winning his 95th cap at the weekend and is one of only three survivors alongside captain Brian O'Driscoll and prop John Hayes, who are also approaching a century of caps for their country, from the last Ireland team that tasted victory in Paris with a 27-25 win back in 2000.

"Ronan had a very good game against Italy so there was no reason not to play him this week," said Kidney after announcing his team on Tuesday.

"Jon has been making a good recovery and the final stage of that should be achieved tomorrow (Wednesday) when he goes place kicking.

"We're in the lucky position of having two good fly-halves and Ronan's experience will be more than helpful going to Paris."

Kidney - who takes his team into the France clash on the back of an unbeaten run of 11 matches - omitted Andrew Trimble following a hamstring injury and brought in Keith Earls on the left wing in the only confirmed change to his side.

"I wanted to give Andrew a go to see how he went last week. He went well but Keith deserves his go now," said Kidney, who was named IRB coach of the year for 2009.

"Andrew tweaked his hamstring and we want to give him full time to recover.

But Kidney is still waiting on the fitness of flanker Stephen Ferris who missed the Italy match with a knee injury.

The coach has left a space on the blindside which he hopes to fill on Thursday with Kevin McLaughlin, who played against Italy, standing by.

However, lock Donncha O'Callaghan has not recovered from the left knee injury that saw him ruled out of the Azzurri opener so Leinster's European Cup winning captain Leo Cullen will continue alongside British and Irish Lions skipper Paul O'Connell in the second row against France on Saturday.

"We'll make a decision as soon as we can with Stephen, but sometimes you don't make a decision until you have to," said Kidney.

"Donncha trained this (Tuesday) morning but just isn't right to take the pitch on Saturday."

Ireland face a France side who began this Six Nations with an 18-9 victory away to Scotland last weekend.

With both sides off to winning starts, Saturday's match is already being billed as a potential title-decider.

Ireland (15-1)

Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, AN Other; Paul O'Connell, Leo Cullen; John Hayes, Jerry Flannery, Cian Healy

Replacements (from): Rory Best, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Sean O'Brien, Kevin McLaughlin, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble

AFP