Free-scoring Leicester ace Geordan Murphy will win his 14th Ireland cap at full-back against France at Lansdowne Road tomorrow after Girvan Dempsey pulled out of the RBS 6 Nations match with a recurrence of a groin strain.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan had planned to recall the Leinster full-back after he missed Ireland's 37-13 win over Italy a fortnight ago and move Murphy onto the wing.

But Dempsey, who has been suffering from the same injury since coming off during Leinster's Heineken Cup clash with Bristol two months ago, complained of soreness this morning and was once more withdrawn.

With Murphy filling the full-back void for the second successive match and hoping to add to his try tally of 10, Munster winger John Kelly gets the chance to win his ninth cap and team-mate Rob Henderson will be on the bench.

The late alteration means the only change to the team which won in Rome is in the front row, where Marcus Horan takes the place of Reggie Corrigan, who broke his wrist in that match.

``It's a pity, but it's no great drama,'' said O'Sullivan.

``It was an easy enough decision. We'll have the same back division that played quite well against Italy.

``We kept John and Rob in the camp because these things can happen. It doesn't disrupt us too much.

``It's disappointing for Girvan because he trained well during the week, but he woke up this morning with soreness.''

Meanwhile, fly-half David Humphreys will lead Ireland out against the reigning champions to mark his 50th appearance.

Captain Brian O'Driscoll will make way for Ireland's most-capped fly-half and his country's record points-scorer, who has rolled back the years since stepping into the boots of the injured Ronan O'Gara.

O'Gara has since recovered from a foot problem, but the 31-year-old Humphreys struck a rich vein of form in his absence and deservedly keeps his place in the starting line-up.

The Ulsterman contributed 26 points in Ireland's opening 36-6 win over Scotland and was man of the match against Italy.

``It will be a great honour for him to lead the team out,'' said O'Sullivan.

``He's been around for a while and I think everybody realises now we have one of the best Irish fly-halves of all time.

``We're very lucky to have two of them, but David is certainly the consummate professional and a great all-round footballer.

``He's had two great performances in the 6 Nations and it would be great if he could go out tomorrow and put in a third.''

After back-to-back victories on the road, the Irish can expect a heroes' welcome at Lansdowne Road as O'Sullivan's buoyant team seek to make it nine wins in a row.

But Irish confidence is tempered by the memory of their 44-5 mauling in Paris last spring and O'Driscoll, who had scored a memorable hat-trick in the corresponding match in 2000, will be warning the current team of the tough challenge they face.

``It's important to remember what the French are capable of,'' he said. ``On their day they can be devastating and beat anyone in the world comprehensively.

``Granted, we had an off day, but it just shows you cannot have an off day against the French.

``It's always a difficult challenge against the French.''