A French lesson can spur Irish rookie duo

ANDY FARRELL believes Ireland’s rookie half-backs Billy Burns and Jamison Gibson-Park can take inspiration from the rapid development of France’s rising international stars.

Fly-half Burns and scrum-half Gibson-Park have only 10 Test caps between them but have been thrust into one of the biggest games of the Farrell era due to injuries suffered by influential duo Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray.

The Irish must beat France in Dublin today to prevent their hopes of Guinness Six Nations glory being snuffed out just two games in.

France head coach Fabien Galthie has not been afraid to put faith in inexperienced players as he builds towards a home World Cup in 2023, with six of the team selected to start at the Aviva Stadium having two caps or fewer when he began the job last year.

Although a severely-depleted team and lack of seasoned deputies is far from ideal,

Ireland head coach Farrell hopes the predicament will prove beneficial in the future.

‘To get to be experienced players they have to deal with situations like this,’ Farrell said of his stand-in half-backs.

‘That’s the challenge of rugby at international level.

‘Those young lads who have come into the French side have taken their chance and now they are becoming more experienced as they go.

‘We’re playing at home and we love playing at home, and there’s no better opponent than the team you guys (the media) are tipping as favourites.

‘Why would we not get excited about that? The boys are raring to go.’

Skipper Sexton, who won the first of his 96 caps in 2009, failed to overcome a head knock sustained in last week’s loss to Wales, while Murray, an international since 2011, injured a hamstring in training.

Ireland have also lost flanker Peter O’Mahony to suspension following his costly red card in Cardiff and James Ryan to a head injury, in addition to being without Caelan Doris and Jacob Stockdale.

His enforced reshuffle also includes a first Test outing since the 2019 World Cup for flanker Rhys Ruddock, a place on the bench for uncapped Munster scrum-half Craig Casey and Ulster lock Iain Henderson captaining Ireland for the first time.

‘Iain has worked really hard on his leadership over the time he’s been captain at Ulster and brings a calmness to the squad,’ said Farrell.