Ireland hooker dropped after poor performance

SQUAD UPDATE: Ireland on Wednesday announced a 37-man squad for their Six Nations match against France, with no place for Robbie Henshaw or hooker Sean Cronin.

Head coach Joe Schmidt gave British and Irish Lions star Henshaw, who missed out against Scotland and Italy after failing to shake off a dead leg, every chance to prove his fitness but he has not recovered in time.

Cronin started against Italy last month but failed to take his chance and has been left out entirely but flyhalf Joey Carbery is included after a hamstring injury.

Ross Byrne is named in the squad for Sunday's match, which also sees the return of Connacht's Kieran Marmion.

Rob Herring is included as one of three hookers alongside skipper Rory Best and Munster's Niall Scannell.

Ireland, who won the Grand Slam last year, are third in the Six Nations table with two wins from their opening three games.

Ireland squad:

Forwards (21): Rory Best (captain), Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Jack McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, Rhys Ruddock, James Ryan, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier.

Backs (16): Bundee Aki, Ross Byrne, Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Andrew Conway, John Cooney, Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Tom Farrell, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Kieran Marmion, Conor Murray, Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Sexton, Jacob Stockdale.

AFP