Dupont will have 'extra motivation' against Ireland

Former Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray believes France talisman Antoine Dupont will "have a point to prove" against Ireland on Thursday after being injured against them in last year's Six Nations.

The French captain suffered a serious knee injury after Ireland second row Tadhg Beirne fell on the scrum-half's leg at a ruck in his side's 47-27 win at the Aviva Stadium.

The 29-year-old spent eight months out before returning to action in November and will make his first Test appearance in 11 months against Ireland in Paris, with Murray wary of his influence.

"We've ran out of things to say about Dupont in terms of what he can bring. Everyone knows what he's capable of," he said on the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.

"He got injured against Ireland last year, so I'm sure it's in the back of his mind. He's got a point to prove or he's got some sort of extra motivation, which is a worry."

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'Loughman and Stockdale can rise to occasion'

Andy Farrell named his Ireland team on Tuesday morning and made a host of changes from their last game in November, necessitated by injuries and a loss of form for his regular starters.

Prop Jeremy Loughman will make his first appearance in two years, while Jacob Stockdale takes the spot usually occupied by James Lowe on the left wing.

There is also no place in the starting team for James Ryan or Tadhg Furlong as Connacht's Cian Prendergast wears six in the absence of Ryan Baird.

Murray is particularly excited by the inclusions of Loughman and Stockdale and hopes they can justify their selections.

"It's as good as we can get at the minute, I think, just given the injury crisis. We talked about out half as well, we thought Andy would go for Sam [Prendergast] and he has," he added.

"There's fellas who are getting chances like Jeremy and Jacob, who hasn't got a proper go in a while.

"They'll understand how big this is and, you know, I just see them rising to it."

Murray, who won 125 caps for Ireland, hopes Farrell's side can produce a complete performance even if they fall short of success.

"I think Ireland can win this game. It's going to be monumental if they do, but they can. I'm not writing anyone off.

"I suppose, what the general public want is a performance - the line-out, the scrum to go well, to attack well, to defend well.

"If we're in a ding-dong battle and we come off the wrong side, then I hate saying a loss is fine, but you know what I mean? Just in terms of performance, hopefully we get that."