Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made one definite change to his side with Shane Horgan named on the right wing after his recovery from a knee injury in place of Andrew Trimble. But places have been left places vacant at outside centre and scrum-half pending fitness reports on skipper Brian O'Driscoll and Peter Stringer.
If O'Driscoll comes through and can take his place in the team, then Murphy will remain on the replacements bench. But if the captain is ruled out, Murphy will come on the wing for his 45th cap and Horgan will switch to partner Gordon D'Arcy at centre.
Ireland (vs France, Sunday)
15 Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
14 Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13 A.N. Other
12 Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 Denis Hickie (St Mary's College/Leinster)
10 Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 A.N. Other
1 Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
2 Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
3 John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets)
7 David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Replacements:
16 Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
17 Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
18 Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) or Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
20 Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster) or Eoin Reddan (London Wasps)
21 Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
22 Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers) or Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
