Wood returns to halt French run

DUBLIN - Ireland captain and hooker Keith Wood will make his first and only Six Nations appearance this season against France in Paris on Sunday morning.

Wood has been sidelined for three months with calf and knee injuries but returned for his English club Harlequins last weekend and was named in Ireland's team by coach Eddie O'Sullivan yesterday.

Lions centre Rob Henderson also returns from injury for the Stade de France clash, at which France will be aiming to complete a grand slam.

Shane Horgan moves to the right wing. The two-try debutant against Italy, John Kelly, drops to the bench to facilitate Henderson's comeback.

For the French, South African-born prop Pieter de Villiers will return to the front row after injury.

De Villiers was named man-of-the-match when France beat England 20-15 in Paris last month, but missed the 22-10 victory over Scotland on March 23 because of an ankle injury.

France have largely kept faith with the players who beat the English and Scots as they bid for their first grand slam since 1998.

Former captain Fabien Pelous edges out David Auradou for one of the lock positions. Auradou was sidelined by a thumb injury for the Scotland clash.

After beating Italy (33-12) and Wales (37-33) as well as England and Scotland, France are the only unbeaten team in the Six Nations.

France also defeated world champions Australia, South Africa and Fiji last November and now have seven consecutive wins under their belt.

But nobody is allowed to talk about grand slams at France's training retreat south of Paris.

"Grand slam, which grand slam?" team manager Jo Maso said.

"To defeat Ireland, a team which we haven't beaten for three years, is enough to motivate the players. I haven't heard the words 'grand slam' once."

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Jason Robinson will return to the England team for their final Six Nations match against Italy in Rome, but Martin Johnson will start the game on the bench.

Coach Clive Woodward has picked Robinson at fullback after he missed the 50-10 victory over Wales two weeks ago. Austin Healey drops to the bench.

Also on the bench is former captain Lawrence Dallaglio, who has just returned to action after almost a year out with a knee injury.

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