Ireland without Sexton and Murray for must-win clash against France

Ireland will be without vastly-experienced halfback duo Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray for tomorrow’s must-win Guinness Six Nations game with France.

Fly-half Sexton sustained a blow to the head in last week’s defeat to Wales and has failed to satisfy returnto-play protocols, while Murray picked up a hamstring problem in training.

Ulster’s Billy Burns will deputise in the number 10 jersey, with Jamison Gibson-park coming in at scrum-half.

Head coach Andy Farrell has made two other enforced changes, recalling back row Rhys Ruddock and lock Iain Henderson in place of the suspended Peter O’mahony and injured vice-captain James Ryan.

Ulster skipper Henderson will captain his country for the first time in the absence of both Sexton and Ryan on his first start since sustaining a knee injury during the Autumn Nations Cup.

Leinster player Ruddock has not featured for Ireland since coming off the bench in the 2019 World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand and was not involved in any of Farrell’s squads last year.

The 30-year-old’s inclusion comes due to flanker O’mahony being handed a three-match ban following his costly 14thminute dismissal in the damaging 21-16 defeat in Cardiff.

France have dropped Teddy Thomas to the bench for the clash with Ireland.

Racing 92 wing Thomas scored twice in last weekend’s thumping 50-10 win away to Italy but Damian Penaud has been preferred on the right flank for the visit to Dublin.

Head coach Fabien Galthie has also altered his back row, bringing in Anthony Jelonch at blindside flanker in place of Dylan Cretin, who claimed a try in Rome.