Ireland, France ready for rugby World Cup exam

Ireland are preparing for a full-blooded encounter with France here Saturday as the two Six Nations heavyweights collide at Lansdowne Road with players from both sides vying for places at the Rugby World Cup. After defeats in earlier warm-up games to Scotland and Saturday's opponents France, Ireland have named a virtual full-strength side as they attempt to score a morale-boosting victory before heading to New Zealand. Ireland coach Declan Kidney names his 30-man party for the World Cup on Monday, meaning Saturday's Test in Dublin has become a final audition for players hoping to force their way into the squad. Ireland ran France close in Bordeaux last week before eventually succumbing 19-12, but Kidney drew encouragement from a spirited fightback by his experimental team that suggested a useful strength in depth. Kidney has made 10 changes to his starting line-up this weekend, the most prominent of which sees Ireland captain and talisman Brian O'Driscoll return. O'Driscoll partners Gordon D'Arcy at centre while there are starting berths for Paul O'Connell and Jamie Heaslip, both of whom impressed after coming on as second half replacements against France last week. Other changes include a first cap for Felix Jones at fullback, while Stephen Ferris is named on the bench as he makes a long anticipated return from injury. O'Driscoll, who will be playing in his fourth World Cup this year, said the competition for places in the Irish squad was the most intense of his career. "We're in a different place with this squad compared to previous years for the most part, where you would have been pretty sure what the 29/30 players might have been," he said. "But now people look at the squad and see people who may be left out and think, 'Wow, there's some really good players left out.' "That's a testament to the squad development and also the attitude of the guys." Performance, rather than points, is what Kidney wants to see from his men on Saturday, but O'Driscoll believes it needs to be a combination of both if Ireland are to beat France. "France are more often than not a very difficult side to play against and we’ve obviously found it hard," he said. "The big thing to see at the weekend is how we start the game, if we can get on top, with some fluidity in our game and play with that freedom. "A lot (of the key to winning) is staying with teams like France and trying to close games out in last 10 to 15 minutes. "When we have beaten France, that is inevitably how we’ve done it. "It's also great to have tough games like this before the World Cup because you want to see where you are against the best opposition, you can see where you are from a physical point of view." France coach Marc Lievremont meanwhile has rung the changes for the side which beat the Irish in the home fixture, bringing in 13 new faces. Lievremont, who will name his World Cup squad on Sunday, defended his decision to shuffle his line-up once more in what his France's final warm-up match before the World Cup kicks off. "It's a warm-up game," said Lievremont. "We need to play these guys. We're on course for the World Cup and it was out of the question to make 15 players sweat blood and tears and not make the others play. "From the moment we chose to play two warm-up games, and I don't regret that choice, everybody had to play."