Toulouse hooker Servat, 23, was drafted into the squad following the retirement of Raphael Ibanez while Bourgoin lock Pape, also 23, could bolster a much-depleted second row.

New captain Fabien Pelous (knee), Olivier Brouzet (shoulder) and David Auradou (right calf) are all rated doubtful for the clash while Jerome Thion, so impressive last year, is out of the tournament after undergoing surgery on his Achilles.

Laporte said: "They are indeed options I have been thinking about. We will study them very carefully with the rest of the staff."

The French start their 2004 campaign with high hopes following a disappointing fourth-place finish at last year's World Cup and prop Sylvain Marconnet admits the squad is desperate to perform well.

"Our clash against Ireland will be crucial for us," he said.

"We have five days ahead of us to prepare for the tie. We are all vengeful because we left the World Cup with nothing."