Irish Rugby

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Ireland prop Finlay Bealham says it does not "feel real" that he will win his 50th Test cap in the Six Nations meeting with France on Saturday (14:15 GMT)

The Connacht tight-head will start the game in the continued absence of Tadhg Furlong and becomes the 58th Irish player to earn a half century of caps.

Skipper Caelan Doris and, should he come off the bench, Jack Conan will also hit the milestone against Les Bleus.

"It would be an incredible honour for me," said Bealham.

"I've been in the group for a while now and seen the calibre of players that have got 50 caps in.

"I suppose to reach that milestone myself, it doesn't really feel real, but it's something I'll obviously be really proud of."

Bealham's parents are flying in from Australia for the occasion, while his wife and son will also be in attendance, with the 33-year-old expecting his family to "go bananas" when he is introduced to the Aviva Stadium crowd.

"There was probably a time where I was like, 'Jeez, I'm even going to get 10 caps' and then you kind of get to 10 and you're like, 'Look, I'll just try and get to 20' and then fast forward now, on the verge of getting 50, like I said, it's really special," he added.

Bealham made his Test debut against Italy in the 2016 Six Nations but did not start a game in the competition until 2023.

Becoming more of a regular after Andrew Porter's switch to loose-head, he says it took six years for him to "feel a real part of the group" with Ireland.

"I don't know if I've ever felt 100% comfortable as it were, but I definitely feel from probably that moment on, I felt a real part of the group and I knew what was expected of me, what I expected of myself and how I fit into what we're trying to do.

"If I had to guess, I'd say it'd be around then, but you're always evolving and trying to get better in it."

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Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby has backed fly-half Sam Prendergast to put "a few question marks" around his defending "to bed" in Saturday's Six Nations match against France.

Prendergast, 22, has impressed in the Irish attack in wins over England, Scotland and Wales, but has also missed a tournament-high 15 tackles.

Easterby says Prendergast is "fully aware" of the need to "step up" in that area as Ireland prepare to a France side that have scored 21 tries in three games.

"I think at times he's been excellent and put some real good shots in and at times he's missed a couple," said Easterby.

"He's working incredibly hard at figuring out lots of things in his game, trying to be the best 10 he can be and the best 10 that can create opportunities in attack but also understands and values the other side of the ball."

Easterby added: "That's part and parcel of his growth as a player, making sure he understands how important both sides of the ball are.

"We've certainly had conversations around it across the championship, not just after the Wales game, but he's fully aware of the need for him to step up in that area and I'm sure we'll see a physical side to Sam at the weekend that will maybe put a few question marks to bed."

Prendergast will face returning France fly-half Romain Ntamack, who partners Antoine Dupont at half-back after missing the England and Italy games through suspension.

"He has an all-court game in terms of his kicking, his ability at the line and his passing," said Easterby.

"But we've got a couple of pretty special ones ourselves in Sam and Jack Crowley.

"It's probably a little sub-plot that will go a long way towards the success of either team, how the two 10s that start the game manage it and how they control the game in the areas of the pitch we play.

"It's an interesting dynamic and one I know Sam is looking forward to challenging himself against."

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Jamie Osborne says he is "confident" playing in any position for Ireland in Saturday's Six Nations game with France.

Osborne was named at full-back in place of Hugo Keenan in Ireland's win over Wales but has also featured at centre or the wing.

The 23-year-old bounced back from a nervy start in Cardiff to score a crucial try as Simon Easterby's side edged a tight contest.

"It definitely helps I've played a couple of positions," Osborne said.

"I'd be confident in any place I end up going. If you do your role well and perform well then the coaches will see that.

"When the team performance goes well I think everyone benefits from that."

The game with Antoine Dupont's France in Dublin has been billed as a potential title decider.

The hosts are unbeaten and aiming for an unprecedented three Six Nations championships in a row while France can take control of the tournament with victory in Dublin, which could move them to the top of the table ahead of the final round of fixtures.

"It's a huge challenge but everyone is looking forward to it," Osborne added.

"We know how strong they are and we have to be at our best to beat them."

While Ireland had moments of difficulty in Cardiff last time out, Osborne said the team "will learn from it" ahead of the game with France.

"The first half wasn't how we wanted it to go. There were a lot of errors, including from myself, but we bounced back from being five points down with a man in the bin, we managed to get back into the game.

"Probably not the game we were expecting to play before the game but we put pressure back on them. I think we learnt a lot about ourselves in the second half."

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Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty says the prospect of France choosing seven forwards on their bench in Saturday's Six Nations meeting will not change their own selection plan much.

The Springboks became the first tier-one side to adopt the 7-1 bench split during preparations for the 2023 World Cup, later doing so at the tournament in the pool stages against Ireland.

France adopted the tactic against Italy in the Six Nations last month and could do so again in Dublin this weekend when the top two in the championship go head to head.

"They've a lot of faith in their backs to stay fit. We know they interchange their backs and they've got some very useful forwards, so you understand it," said Fogarty.

"Were they trying it out for us? Maybe, I don't know, we're not too sure.

"It doesn't change our plan a huge amount. We haven't overly discussed it."

Fogarty said Ireland have "a lot of confidence" in their own "very fit group of forwards" and would not consider doing similar for fear of injuries disrupting their plans.

"It would spook us. It's something we wouldn't do," he added.

"They feel they can cover positions. They probably feel they have some forwards who can cover the backs as well.

"It does happen in a game, you lose players and it becomes difficult to play your game the way you want to play it. We haven't really gone there much."

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On Monday, the Six Nations published the written reasons for Ireland centre Garry Ringrose's three-match suspension.

Ringrose was handed a three-game ban following his red card against Wales for a high tackle on Ben Thomas.

Ringrose's ban came after the mid-range entry point of a six week/match suspension was reduced by 50% taking into account his guilty plea and previous disciplinary record.

He will miss Saturday's Six Nations match against France. A further game will be taken off should Ringrose complete World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme.

Significantly, Ringrose's suspension included Leinster's United Rugby Championship win over Cardiff on Saturday, so if he completes the coaching intervention programme, he will be available for Ireland's final Six Nations game against Italy on 15 March.

The Leinster game being included in the ban has caused some confusion. Earlier in the tournament, France fly-half Romain Ntamack was handed a two-game ban following his red card against Wales.

Ntamack's suspension, however, covered France's Six Nations fixtures against England and Italy, but not Toulouse's Top 14 encounter with Clermont, which took place during a Six Nations fallow week (like Leinster's game with Cardiff).

Over the weekend, French Rugby Federation (FFR) vice-president Jean-Marc Lhermet said they are seeking an explanation around the differences between Ringrose and Ntamack's cases.

The written report on Ringrose's online disciplinary hearing explains that Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby said the decision had already been taken to release Ringrose back to Leinster for the Cardiff game.

That was, according to Easterby, because Ireland have "three world-class centres" in their squad (Ringrose, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw) and thus Ringrose's game time in the Six Nations this year has been "limited".

Interestingly, part of the reason for releasing Ringrose back to Leinster was "to allow him the chance to play in a different position in order that Ireland can consider using [Ringrose] on the wing as well as in the centre".

The written report confirms the independent disciplinary committee was shown an e-mail sent by the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] to Leinster on 24 February confirming Ringrose was included in a list of Ireland players released back to the province.

Ireland beat Wales on 22 February, so the e-mail was sent in between Ringrose being sent off and his disciplinary hearing on 27 February.

Considering all of the above, the committee was "satisfied" that Ringrose "had been expected to play at least some part" in Leinster's Cardiff game.

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Former Ireland international Donncha O'Callaghan believes Garry Ringrose's Six Nations red card against Wales "holds a massive mirror" up to rugby's disciplinary processes.

Ireland centre Ringrose was dismissed for a high tackle on Ben Thomas in the Principality Stadium last month but will sit out just one championship game, his side's hosting of France in Dublin on Saturday.

"If we're going to give the bans, we need to stand by them. Otherwise we're undermining all our officials," said O'Callaghan on Rugby Union Weekly.

"We [Ireland] are incredibly lucky to have Garry back on the pitch so soon.

"Nothing towards him. He's an incredible player, not a bit dirty, an incredible guy, but that went wrong.

"To see the way the citing went is disappointing."

Ringrose's three-game ban came after the mid-range entry point of a six week/match suspension was reduced by 50% taking into account his guilty plea and previous disciplinary record.

A further game will be taken off should Ringrose complete World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme.

The 30-year-old was also able to serve the first game of the suspension during Leinster's United Rugby Championship victory over Cardiff on Saturday, meaning he could return against Italy in the Six Nations' final weekend.

Romain Ntamack was handed a similar ban for his red card against Wales in round one, also for a tackle on Thomas, although his suspension did not include matches for his club side Toulouse.

Both players were inititally shown yellow cards subject to off-field reviews.

That meant the punishment could only be upgraded to a 20-minute rather than full red card and allowed Ireland to later replace Ringrose with Bundee Aki.

Given the huge impact made by Aki in the remainder of the game, O'Callaghan questioned the reduced sanction which is being used in the Six Nations for the first time this season.

"You have to think does it undermine the card itself?" he added.

"Did Wales lose out on the advantage? Do France gain as opposed to what it was there for?

"It holds a massive mirror up to the sanction."

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Ireland say they are hopeful captain Caelan Doris will be available for their Six Nations meeting with France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon (14.15 GMT).

The 26-year-old back row missed out on the victory over Wales in Cardiff last month with a knee injury.

"Ireland captain Caelan Doris continues to make positive strides and it is hoped that he will be available for selection," said a statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Monday.

Ireland have won three from three in this year's championship and have already secured the Triple Crown.

They are aiming to become the first side to ever win three consecutive outright titles in the Six Nations.

The IRFU added that number eight Jack Conan and fly-half Ciaran Frawley are also in contention, but a decision will be made later in the week on the availability of hooker Ronan Kelleher and prop Tadhg Furlong, who continues to deal with a calf injury.

The 32-year-old Furlong missed Ireland's November games with a separate injury issue and has not played at all since Leinster's win over La Rochelle in the Champions Cup on 12 January.

Kelleher started Ireland's wins over England and Scotland to start the campaign but was absent against Wales with a neck problem.

Ireland, who name their team on Thursday afternoon, have also added Max Deegan, Darragh Murray, Tommy O'Brien and Tom O'Toole to their squad.

All four featured for Ireland 'A' in their defeat against England in Bristol last month.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said the province are "looking into" their injury issues this season but added that there is "no proof" that training on their artificial pitch is a contributing factor.

The Irish province beat Scarlets on Saturday in the United Rugby Championship (URC) despite missing the likes of Iain Henderson, Tom Stewart, Cormac Izuchukwu and John Cooney through injury.

Sat 14th in the table even after the win, senior absentees have been a feature of their difficult campaign.

Speaking on BBC NI, former Ulster and Ireland flanker Chris Henry noted concerns over whether the Kingspan Stadium artificial surface, installed in 2023, has any part to play.

"There's a large injury list. Interestingly, a lot of these injuries are lower limb injuries and obviously the pitch has been talked about a lot," he said.

"When Ulster put out their top 15 players we can compete with anyone. Whenever the injuries happen, we're putting in young guys who, it's not their fault, but perhaps they aren't absolutely ready."

Murphy said that Ulster's squad has had 70% availability through the campaign but that it is the calibre of player missing, rather than frequency or nature of the injuries, which has cost the province.

He said: "At this moment in time there's no proof that training on a plastic pitch creates more injuries.

"We do have an injury issue at the moment. Ulster Rugby as a group, we're looking into why we're picking up those injuries but there's no real reason for it at the moment, or that's been found at the moment."

Ulster welcomed Jacob Stockdale, James Hume and Stuart McCloskey back into the side last month after spells on the sidelines, but then lost Henderson, Stewart and Izuchukwu to fresh injuries, while Robert Baloucoune has not played this season.

Murphy added: "When you look at the players that have been out all across the season, it's all our big senior players."

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Ulster back row James McNabney said the side's 30-28 win over Scarlets on Saturday was "absolutely crucial" to keeping their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes alive.

Richie Murphy's side had fallen to 15th in the URC standings before the game and were behind in the closing minutes only for Alan O'Connor's late try to snatch the much-needed win.

The result saw Ulster rise just one place in the table, but they are now only two points off the play-off spots with six games remaining.

"If you look at the league table you would nearly think you're too far away to ever make anything of it," said McNabney.

"It hasn't gone our way, the season hasn't gone to plan.

"We think there's a chance we can salvage something out of this."

The turning point in the victory over the Scarlets came when the visitors were camped on the Ulster line seeking a try that would have moved them two scores ahead going into the final 10 minutes.

Instead, the ball squirted out from the ruck, with McNabney on hand to grab it and then hack clear.

Wearing his school socks for the URC's 'Origin Round', the 22-year-old said it was the first time he had put boot to ball in a game since his days at Cambridge House.

"My [school] coach said 'I think you should just keep it in your hands and not bother kicking it.' That was the last time," he joked.

"Don't know if I'll do it again, but it was just what happened."

Before seeing off the Scarlets Ulster had lost their past two games, both against Italian opposition, and had not won at home in the league since October.

McNabney, though, said that the players' commitment has not wavered.

"It's all about the heart. When you keep getting beaten, you can't shy away from it," he added.

"You either ruin your season or you stand up to the fight. I think that's what we did.

"You have to keep at it, there's no option."

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United Rugby Championship

Connacht (19) 38

Tries: Treacy, Bolton 2, Boyle, Hurley-Langton, Devine Cons: Ioane 3, Hanrahan

Benetton (27) 30

Tries: Mendy, Uren, Zanon Cons: Albornoz 3 Pens: Albornoz 3

Connacht recovered from an eight-point half-time deficit to see off Benetton 38-30 in a nine-try United Rugby Championship thriller at the Sportsground in Galway.

Finn Treacy, Shayne Bolton and Paul Boyle crossed for the Irish province in the first half, but touchdowns from Ignacio Mendy, Andy Uren and Marco Zanon helped the visitors to a 27-19 advantage at the break.

Shamus Hurley-Langton and Matthew Devine were Connacht's try-scorers in the second 40 minutes as they secured a bonus point, while fly-half Josh Ioane contributed three conversions and JJ Hanrahan one for the hosts.

Tomas Albornoz kicked three conversions and three penalties for the Italian side, his third penalty providing Benetton's sole points of the second half.

Connacht's fifth URC victory of the season sees them move into the top half of the table in eighth, while Benetton drop to 13th, level on points with Lions, Scarlets, Ospreys and Stormers above them in the congested standings.

Connacht: O'Conor, Bolton, Gavin, Forde, Treacy, Ioane, Blade, Dooley, Heffernan, Aungier, D. Murray, D O'Connor, Prendergast, Hurley-Langton, Boyle.

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Buckley, Illo, J. Murphy, Dowling, Devine, Hanrahan, Hawkshaw.

Benetton Treviso: Smith, Mendy, Zanon, Fekitoa, Gallagher, Albornoz, Uren, Gallo, Bernasconi, Zilocchi, Marini, Snyman, Izekor, Kingi, Halafihi.

Replacements: Creevy, Tetaz Chaparro, Pasquali, Favretto, Koroiyadi, Garbisi, Umaga, Zanandrea.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)

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Ireland prop Cian Healy says he is "thankful" for the 10 extra years in his career after announcing his retirement from the sport.

Healy, who is Ireland's record cap holder, will end his international career after the Six Nations and call time on Leinster at the end of the season.

The 37-year-old said he was "grateful" that he was still playing after a neck injury almost ended his career in 2015.

He lost movement in his right hand after a damaged disk in his neck, but he recovered and overtook Brian O'Driscoll as Ireland's most-capped player against Australia in November.

"After that I had a different approach to rugby and how I spent my time and how much effort I put into rugby," said Healy.

"When that's nearly been taken away from you, you get a little bit more thankful for those opportunities.

"You manage to enjoy it a little bit more and I've managed to squeeze 10 years of enjoying it a bit more.

"It's all been good since then. I've been up and down and all around the pecking order, but it's still better than not doing it."

'Still here to do a job'

Healy said his decision to retire "was as good as done" in December and he confirmed his plans to Leinster before heading into Ireland camp for the Six Nations.

Ireland lead the Six Nations with three wins from as many matches and face France in their penultimate match on 2 March.

"Just because I've decided to retire doesn't mean I'm starting to think back about things or about the past," added Healy.

"I'm here to do a job, and ideally that job is two more wins and lift a trophy."

Healy has not ruled out playing for his boyhood club Clontarf next season when he retires from professional rugby but says his main aim "is to take a break for a while".

"I've been on a schedule from when I've been 14 so I don't know what it's like not to be on one," he said.

"I'll go on a decent holiday and get into the workshop and get crafting things, using my hands and using my mind. Change it up a little bit."