The injured duo of Aurelien Rougerie and Benjamin Fall are replaced by the relatively inexperienced Alexis Palisson and the colourful Vincent Clerc on the wings but otherwise France are unchanged.

Rougerie only lasted four minutes against Scotland at Murrayfield last week before he was replaced following two earth-shattering tackles.

Clerc, a seasoned campaigner with 40 caps to his name, broke Irish hearts in 2008 when his first-half hat-trick blew their hopes for a Grand Slam and Lievremont believes that the Toulouse flyer can replicate that form.

Lievremont admitted the selection of Palisson was more controversial but feels that the versatility of the Brive youngster, who made his last Test start in November 2008, gave him the advantage over Julien Malzieu.

On the bench, experienced prop Sylvain Marconnet comes in for Luc Ducalcon who was also injured last weekend as France bid to end Ireland’s hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams.

France: Poitreneud, Clerc, Bastareaud, Jauzion, Palisson, Trinh-Duc, Parra, Harinordoquy, Ouedraogo, Dusautoir, Pape, Nallet, Mas, Servat, Domingo

Replacements: Szarzewski, Marconnet, Pierre, Bonnaire, Michalak, Marty, Malz