Fit-again Sexton starts for Ireland

Johnny Sexton has fought off Paddy Jackson’s challenge to start Ireland’s Six Nations clash with France in Dublin tomorrow.

Sexton has been sidelined with calf trouble since Leinster’s 24-24 European draw in Castres on 20 January, but will now slot straight back in at stand-off this weekend.

Ireland have made three changes from the side which overwhelmed Italy 63-10 in Rome on 11 February.

Jack Mcgrath slots back in to start at prop with Cian Healy dropping back to the bench, with captain Rory Best also back in the front row after missing the Italy win through a stomach bug.

Wing Andrew Trimble takes a seat on the bench after a groin injury, while Iain Henderson will also cover lock from the replacements.

France have also made three changes to their starting line-up. Prop Rabah Slimani, flanker Bernard Le Roux and wing Yoann Huget come in for Uini Atonio, Loann Goujon and Virimi Vakatawa respectively.

Vakatawa has a thigh injury while Atonio makes way for Slimani, who scored a try against England in the narrow defeat at Twickenham.

Back-row forward Goujon has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament following a clash of heads in the game against Scotland. The flanker fractured a bone in his sinuses which ruled him out for at least a month. Juggernaut centre Mathieu Bastareaud also misses the Dublin match after suffering a concussion. Former British and Irish Lions head coach Sir Ian Mcgeechan believes Dylan Hartley remains a contender to be captain for this summer’s tour to New Zealand.

The England hooker thrived as captain in 2016 as Eddie Jones’ men won a Six Nations Grand Slam, three Tests in Australia and completed an unbeaten calendar year last autumn.

But Hartley’s England place has been under scrutiny since his fitness dropped off following a high tackle on Sean

0 Dylan Hartley: Contender. O’brien which incurred a sixweek suspension while playing for Northampton.

New Zealand-born Hartley is still in the mix to be Lions skipper under head coach Warren Gatland, along with Ireland’s Rory Best, a positional rival. Sam Warburton relin-