Trimble makes way for Horgan

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made just one change to the starting line-up ahead of Saturday's second World Cup match against Georgia in Bordeaux, with Shane Horgan replacing Andrew Trimble on the right wing after it was revealed this afternoon that the Ulsterman has fractured his finger.

"Andrew bruised his finger and we discovered he has a very small fracture. We expect him to be out for a week," O'Sullivan said today. "Shane had a good session on the park this morning and is champing at the bit.

"Overall, training has been very good this week, but then it was very good last week yet we performed so badly against Namibia."

Trimble would certainly have been out of the starting XV anyhow, give Horgan's recovery from the grade two ligament tear he sustained while warming up for August's friendly against Scotland at Murrayfield. The Ulsterman, who scored an excellent try against Namibia, now faces a race against time to be fit for the crunch game against France in Saint-Denis on the 21st.

The fact that Horgan is the only change is no surprise, with O'Sullivan being of the opinion that it would be counter-productive to drop players after the disastrous performance against the tournament's lowest ranked team in the tournament on Sunday.

"If everything had gone well against Namibia, we might have given some of the other guys a run," O'Sullivan told a news conference."I do not want to create the environment if a player plays badly after one performance he gets dumped."

Captain Brian O'Driscoll (elbow), outhalf Ronan O'Gara ( bruised left foot) and prop Marcus Horan (back) are all passed fit after picking up various knocks at the weekend. 

The bench may have included Trimble had he been fit but remains unchanged. Hooker Jerry Flannery, prop Simon Best, lock Malcolm O'Kelly and flanker Neil Best are selected as cover for the pack.  Paddy Wallace and Isaac Boss will be options at halfback, while the versatile Geordan Murphy can shore up a number of positions in the backline.

Georgia, ranked 17th in the world, take on Argentina in Lyon this evening in what will be their first game of the campaign.  Argentina (sixth) have, of course, already recorded a win in the opening game against France and could take firm control of Pool D with a convincing performance tonight.

Ireland XV v Georgia: Girvan Dempsey; Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Denis Hickie; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Rory Best, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Simon Easterby, David Wallace, Denis Leamy

Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Simon Best, Malcolm O'Kelly, Neil Best, Isaac Boss, Paddy Wallace, Geordan Murphy.