France give Poitrenaud start after Mermoz ruled out

Due to shoulder injury Centre Maxime Mermoz has been ruled out of Sunday's Six Nations clash against Ireland.

Clement Poitrenaud is promoted from the bench to start at full-back at the Aviva Stadium.

Veteran Toulouse centre Yannick Jauzion ,after being omitted against Scotland returns among the replacements.

There is a further change on the bench, where veteran prop Sylvain Marconnet replaces Luc Ducalcon.

Mermoz injured himself in a game against France's 34-21 win over Scotland and may miss the rest of the season after being advised to undergo surgery.

Best - Ireland can win Six Nations

Rory Best says that Ireland is very strong contender to win Six Nations.

After England and France 2009 Grand Slam champions are rated third favourites to reclaim the title they won two years ago.

Since Italy joined the competition in 2000, Ireland narrowly trail Les Bleus in an overall Six Nations table, having finished outside the top three just once in that time.

We're taking part in this competition to win it, that's first and foremost in our mind," said Ulster hooker Best. "That's where we've got ourselves as a squad over the last few years."

He added: "We're all ambitious. Every competition we enter as a province or country we want to win. Every year the Six Nations looks like being close, but especially this year.

"Every team had mixed results and performances in the autumn internationals and European Cup, which is sometimes another barometer of how things are going. Anything can happen on any day in the Six Nations and that's what makes it so tight. That's why there are upsets every year."

"I don't think the number of injuries is a worry," Best said. "Look at the strength of the squad with the injuries, it says a lot for the way we've evolved over the last six years.

"It's probably not a bad thing to test the depth of the squad. We owe a lot to the way the provinces have developed over the last few years.

"Munster we all know have been there for the last 10 years. Leinster have really come on over the last four or five years and now hopefully Ulster will start to push on. It's important for Irish rugby that all four provinces are going well. Everyone's buoyant in the camp because they're happy at home."

Trimble ruled out of Six Nations opener

Andrew Trimble after breaking a bone in his right hand has been ruled out of Ireland's opening game in the RBS Six Nations Championship against Italy.

Trimble in a match against Aironi had an injury during the Heineken Cup match at the weekend playing for Ulster.

An X-ray report shows today that the sportsman has broken a metacarpal in his hand.

After this it has been confirmed that he will miss the game against Italy but how long he will be unable to play depends upon the specialist review this week to determine.

On other injury news, both Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe underwent scans on knee problems and an update on their progress will be available in the next 24 hours.

Henson's Six Nations in doubt after injury

Gavin Henson's who plays for Wales got injured and faces a blow when he limped out of Saracens 43-20 loss to Leinster.After the injury there is enough doubt that Henson's could miss out Rugby World Cup and Six Nations.

In 38th minute of match he is called on as a replacement for Michael Tagicakibau but had to come off in the 63rd minute with a suspected calf injury.

Henson's despite injury believes that he could come back in the squad for Six Nations and can represent his team.

To determine the extent of injury the double Grand Slam winner will now have a scan on his calf when he returns to London from Dublin.

Wales start their Six Nations tournament on Friday the 4th of February at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff against England.

Gethin Jenkins miss of Six Nations

Wales have obtained a best position due self experiencing that he forward to Gethin Jenkins of which now out of the Six Nations because of injury, now he will miss the Six Nations.

A few time Cardiff prop has been scramble with a toe injury and the decision has been made for the 30-year-old to pass surgery, sidelining him for more than two months.

In currently seasons the two-time Lions has been injury dogged to due and they missed of previous year's Six Nations with a calf problem.

Reported by Cardiff Blues who director of rugby Dai Young: "Gethin went to see the specialist late last week and the recommendation was to have an operation on his toe. The toe has caused him a problem for about 12 months now so he's booked in to have an operation on Wednesday that would mean he's out from 10 to 12 weeks, which will mean he will miss the Six Nations, which is a big blow for Wales and for us".

He also said, "The hope was that with reduced training and with rest the toe would heal itself. They've gone down every path because Gethin wanted to avoid the operation if he could but it's at the stage now where the only option was to operate. The toe injury has affected his calf and Gethin feels he hasn't played the way he'd like to because he hasn't done the fitness training that he normally does."

In the Sic Nation Richie Rees out but Lee Byrne is return

In the Six Nation Wales have been forefront with the news scrum-half Richie Rees out the complete tournament but Lee Byrne is retun.

Cardiff Blues star Rees was pushing Mike Phillips to be the first-choice No 9 – was yesterday sealed for 12 weeks.

The Ospreys star has suffered a thumb fractured in Wales’ defeat against New Zealand in Cardiff on November 27, but he is due to have the plaster removed this week.

Ospreys physiotherapist Chris Towers said: “We will be looking to accelerate his return with a view to making him available for the London Irish game.”

Flutey glad to be fit again

Riki Flutey after having an injury for more than six months is now targeting an England recall.

Because of the shoulder injury Riki was unable to participate in England's November Tests with a torn calf.Flutey's comeback was then delayed by another fortnight after he contracted a severe dose of the flu, which left him bed-ridden and unable to walk.

He added: "It's been a while with my calf injury. That took longer than expected. It was in an area of my calf that the medical teams with England and Wasps hadn't seen a tear before.

"It has taken a while but it is good to finally have it right now.

"The England management have been great. I have had the England physios and doctors coming into Wasps once a week to check on things.

"All I need to do is get on the field and get some game-time and I know that will give me loads of confidence going forward into the Six Nations."