Brennan recall the only change

Whisper it, but Ireland squad selections are becoming boring, predictable, the great blood-letting is a thing of the past. The national squad for the game against France at Stade de France on Saturday week, named yesterday, is a vindication of the collective performance against Italy at Lansdowne Road last weekend.

The only exception is the demotion of former captain Dion O'Cuinneagain in favour of St Mary's flanker Trevor Brennan. There isn't even a hint of Machiavellian subterfuge in O'Cuinneagain reverting to the A squad. Coach Warren Gatland had already intimated that Brennan would return for the French game, citing "a horses for courses" policy.

Brennan's greater physical presence is deemed a prized commodity in the trenches of Paris.

Gatland's 23-man squad sees Bath centre Kevin Maggs return. Injury had forced Maggs to withdraw from the previous squad and he will once again be required to prove his rehabilitation - he failed to recover from a hamstring problem sustained in the England match in a fitness test before the Scottish game.

Former captain Paddy Johns retains his place despite the fact that he was not an original selection for the Italian match. An injury to Castres second-row Jeremy Davidson forced him to withdraw with Johns benefiting. The Dungannon man keeps his place with Davidson, lacking in match practice, included in the shadow squad.

Gatland insisted yesterday that Johns's selection was not a fait accompli after the Italian result but did concede that there weren't many raised voices at the selection meeting. "I don't think that you offer a team carte blanche vindication after a match, no matter what the result. We sat down and had a look at the Italian match and some videos of the French game. It wasn't difficult to come up with a squad for Saturday week's game, though. I want to see the players enjoy themselves in Paris and play with the confidence that comes from winning."

Dominic Crotty returns to the A squad having withdrawn from the Italian game with a viral infection. Garryowen scrumhalf Tom Tierney is another to return after injury: Terenure's Derek Hegarty drops out.

The vacancy among the backs will be filled by one of the four centres in the senior squad. Doubts remain about the severity of the rib injury sustained by Dungannon wing Tyrone Howe and his fitness will be monitored. Davidson replaces Johns while O'Cuinneagain's new role means that Shannon flanker Alan Quinlan is no longer required and is dropped from the squad.

Abdelatif Benazzi, who missed France's win over Scotland last weekend, has recovered from an injury to his right calf and resumed training yesterday.

Benazzi is set to play for his Agen club against Racing Club at the weekend, said Thierry Hermerel, the official team doctor for both Agen and the French side.

Meanwhile, a new pitch will be laid at the Stade de France in preparation for the Ireland match and the Champions League final on May 24th.

The pitch was criticised by French football players after the recent friendly against Poland, four days after England beat France 159 in the Six Nations.