Captain Brian O’Driscoll – who this week declared himself ready for action – is still absent as the Irish look to avenge the narrow 25-22 RBS 6 Nations defeat to the Les Bleus in February.

Kidney has made nine changes from the side that lost 10-6 to Scotland at Murrayfield – including moving Donnacha Ryan’s to blindside from the second row.

Ulster’s Paddy Wallace starts at 12 alongside Keith Earls, who makes his first start of the season at outside centre, replacing Leinster’s Fergus McFadden.

Ireland record points scorer Ronan O’Gara – replacing Jonathan Sexton – and Eoin Reddan start the game as the half-back combination.

Leo Cullen – who skippered the side for the first time last week – will again lead the team, with Paul O’Connell on the bench, as Donncha O’Callaghan comes into second row alongside him. 

The other change to the back row is Sean O’Brien, who replaces Niall Ronan after missing last week’s match with Scotland.

Leinster pair Cian Healy and Mike Ross, along with Ulster’s Rory Best, come into the side as a completely new front row, replacing Tom Court, Sean Cronin and Tony Buckley.

The back three remains unchanged with Rob Kearney at full-back and Andrew Trimble and Luke Fitzgerald either side.

Uncapped Munster scrum-half Conor Murray is named on the bench alongside British & Irish Lions No. 8 Jamie Heaslip.

15 - Rob Kearney - Leinster
14 - Andrew Trimble - Ulster
13 - Keith Earls - Munster
12 - Paddy Wallace - Ulster
11 - Luke Fitzgerald - Leinster
10 - Ronan O’Gara - Munster
9 - Eoin Reddan - Leinster
1 - Cian Healy - Leinster
2 - Rory Best - Ulster
3 - Mike Ross - Leinster
4 - Donncha O’Callaghan - Munster
5 - Leo Cullen - Leinster 
6 - Donnacha Ryan - Munster
7 - Sean O’Brien - Leinster
8 - Denis Leamy - Munster

Replacements:
16 - Jerry Flannery - Munster
17 - Tony Buckley - Sale Sharks
18 - Paul O’Connell - Munster
19 - Jamie Heaslip - Leinster
20 - Conor Murray - Munster
21 - Fergus McFadden - Leinster
22 - Felix Jones - Munster