Six Nations: Ireland v France preview, coverage & stats

Guinness Men's Six Nations: Ireland v France

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 8 March Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on ITV1

Overview

The top two teams in northern hemisphere rugby collide in Dublin on Saturday in what has long been billed as a likely Six Nations decider.

Ireland appear to have one hand on the trophy after their Triple Crown-clinching victory over a much-improved Wales two weeks ago, while France rebounded from a slip up at Twickenham to swat aside Italy in Rome, crossing the tryline 11 times in their biggest ever Six Nations victory.

The Irish are attempting to break new ground with a third successive Six Nations title and any victory over their rivals at the Aviva Stadium would likely secure the trophy with Italy to come in round five.

However, a French triumph would not only put them within touching distance of the title, but given their extremely healthy points difference, would also bring England into play and set up a mouth-watering finale next week.

Ireland team news

Ireland make four changes, with captain Caelan Doris returning to the back row after missing the Wales game with a knee injury. Suspended Garry Ringrose is replaced by Bundee Aki in the centres, while Jamie Osborne takes injured Mack Hansen's place on the wing with Hugo Keenan coming in at full-back.

Finlay Bealham returns at tight-head prop with Thomas Clarkson dropping to the bench.

Bealham, Doris and Jack Conan are set to win their 50th Test caps, with the latter appearing from the bench.

Ireland: 15-Keenan; 14-Osborne, 13-Henshaw, 12-Aki, 11-Lowe; 10-S Prendergast, 9-Gibson-Park; 1-Porter, 2-Sheehan, 3-Bealham, 4-J McCarthy, 5- Beirne, 6-O'Mahony, 7-Van der Flier, 8-Doris (capt).

Replacements: 16-Herring, 17-Healy, 18- Clarkson, 19-Ryan, 20-Conan, 21-Baird, 22-Murray, 23-Crowley.

France team news

France head coach Fabian Galthie has made two changes to his starting XV, with fly-half Romain Ntamack returning from a two-match ban and Damian Penaud coming in for Theo Attissogbe on the right wing.

Gregory Alldritt has shaken off fitness concerns to start in an unchanged pack while locks Emmanuel Meafou and Hugo Auradou replace Romain Taofifenua and Alexandre Roumat in another 7-1 split bench.

France: 15-Ramos; 14-Penaud, 13-Barassi, 12-Moefana, 11-Bielle-Biarrey; 10-Ntamack; 9-Dupont (capt); 1-Gros, 2-Mauvaka, 3-Atonio; 4-Flament, 5-Guillard; 6- Cros, 7-Boudehent, 8-Alldritt.

Replacements: 16-Marchand, 17-Baille, 18-Aldegheri, 19-Meafou, 20-Auradou, 21-Jegou, 22-Jelonch, 23-Lucu.

View from both camps

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby: "The team has worked hard again this week and the preparation has been positive for what we know will be a huge test. There's great respect and rivalry between the two teams and it should be a cracking contest.

"We know that given the opportunity, the French have the ability to do real damage.

"But so do we and we feel confident that if we get our game in place and that we win moments and create momentum, this team can do something special as well."

France head coach Fabien Galthie: "This match has special stakes, we know that and that's what we want. What's more, it's a match against the best European nation in the last three or four years.

"They're a very high-level team, one of the two best nations in the world, if not the best, and they're playing at home. It's true that the challenge is immense. And taking on a huge challenge is what we're looking for."

Commentator's notes

Gareth Rhys Owen: Six Nations organisers might have been slightly annoyed that England beat France a few weeks ago, as this match had clearly been pencilled in as a Grand Slam decider. However, Ireland's failure to claim maximum points against Wales means that this can essentially be billed as a championship shoot-out.

Ntamack and Penaud's return is a huge boost for the visitors, while Galthie's decision to name only one recognised back on the bench comes with huge upside, but is not without risk.

Ireland will lean into the power of emotion as they aim for an historic three-peat. A scriptwriter would demand that Peter O'Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray get to end their international careers with a third successive championship and a second Grand Slam in two seasons.

The only issue is the quality of the opposition in front of them. The French are equally as brilliant as they are inconsistent and possess the world's best player in Antoine Dupont and a monstrous set of forwards.

This one may well go down to the wire.

Match facts

Head-to-head

• Ireland are aiming to win three successive Tests against France for the second time in Six Nations history, emulating 2017 to 2019.

• The Irish won the previous meeting 38-17 in Marseille, their largest triumph in this fixture since 1913. However, Antoine Dupont was absent as he prepared for the Olympic Sevens tournament.

Ireland

• Ireland came from behind in Wales in the previous round to secure their 14th Triple Crown.

• They are bidding to become the first nation to win three successive outright titles in the championship's history.

• Ireland have won 15 of their past 16 Six Nations Tests and are on a 10-game winning run at the Aviva Stadium, their longest home winning streak in any iteration of the championship.

• However, their last two home victories have come by margins of just four and five points respectively.

France

• France have won five of their past seven Six Nations Tests, drawing one and losing the other.

• They prepared for this clash by recording their biggest ever Six Nations victory, scoring 11 tries in a 73-24 win over Italy in Rome.

• Les Bleus have scored 21 tries in the 2025 Six Nations, eight shy of the record set by England in 2001.

• France have completed 49 offloads in this year's tournament, at least 16 more than any other side.

• Louis Bielle-Biarrey's been involved in more tries than any other player, with five tries and four assists.