Rugby: Ireland need big improvement to keep dream of title defence alive

Ireland need to improve quickly if they are to keep their Six Nations title defence on track at France this weekend.

While England go to Italy aiming to build on last week's opening victory, Ireland have the toughest possible game to follow their uninspiring 29-11 win over the Italians.

France were already tournament favourites before blowing away Scotland in their first match with a dominant first-half performance at Murrayfield.

"We'll get better as the competition goes on but there's plenty to improve on," Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll said. "Our ability to create fast ruck ball is the winning and losing of games against sides like France."

Ireland eased into a 23-3 lead over Italy but were unable to stamp dominance on the match.

But coach Declan Kidney resisted the temptation to change a winning lineup and will give the players who went unbeaten through 2009 another chance.

Keith Earls replaces Andrew Trimble on the wing at Stade de France tomorrow, with Trimble dropping to the bench because of a minor hamstring problem.

The only other change is the return of Stephen Ferris after the flanker recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of the match against Italy.

France are protecting a 10-year unbeaten record at home against Ireland and look the biggest obstacle to the visitors' attempts to defend their first Grand Slam since 1948.

France brought in wingers Vincent Clerc and Alexis Palisson for the injured Aurelien Rougerie and Benjamin Fall in the only changes to the side that beat Scotland 18-9.

"You don't change a winning team, with the exception of the two injured wingers," coach Marc Lievremont said this week. "The pack gave us great satisfaction, the front five were extremely good."

Lievremont preferred the 22-year-old Palisson - with one try from five appearances - to Julien Malzieu on the left wing because of his better kicking game.

"Considering the kicking game the Irish have, his left foot can help us clear our lines," Lievremont said.

Ireland beat France 30-21 last year on their way to the Grand Slam.

Possibly the most intriguing clash will be in midfield, where giant centre Mathieu Bastareaud, who scored both France's tries against the Scots, will be up against O'Driscoll.

Scotland just couldn't get their attacking game going against a fierce French defence and could find themselves under severe pressure tomorrow against a Wales side stung by their 30-17 loss at England.

Wales were undone by the yellow card given to lock Alun-Wyn Jones for tripping, with England scoring 17 points while they had a man advantage.

"We have got to cut the errors in our game, because we know when we are accurate we are a very good side," Wales five-eighths Stephen Jones said. "We have to give England credit because they played well, but the problem from our perspective was that we took so much away from our own game just from our own inaccuracies."

A 15-man Wales side in good form should be too strong for a competitive but limited Scottish team.

Like Kidney, Wales coach Warren Gatland largely kept faith with his players. He only brought in Jonathan Thomas at lock for Luke Charteris and Leigh Halfpenny for Tom James on the wing. England finally found their try scoring form against Wales and should be even stronger in that department with last season's leading try scorer, Riki Flutey, back in the starting lineup after recovering from injury.

Flutey replaces Toby Flood but much could hinge on how Dan Cole fares in his first start at tighthead prop.

The 22-year-old Leicester player made his debut as a second-half replacement for David Wilson last week but is now up against one of the toughest scrums in world rugby.

"I thought he was impressive when he played last week and the way he has handled this week," team manager Martin Johnson said. "We knew there was potential in him."

FIXTURES

Tomorrow

* Wales v Scotland
* France v Ireland

Monday

* Italy v England

- AP