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Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Ireland v France

Bringing back memories of 2023’s electric encounter, Ireland and France meet in a mouth-watering top of the table clash as the Guinness Men’s Six Nations title race reaches a key stage in Dublin.

2025 GUINNESS MEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 4:

Saturday, March 8 –

IRELAND (1st) v FRANCE (2nd), Aviva Stadium, 2.15pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/ITV1/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds/BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra/IRFU Live Blog)

Coming To The Match: All You Need To Know For Ireland v France

Opta Facts: Men’s Six Nations – Ireland v France

Team News: With interim head coach Simon Easterby making four changes in personnel, captain Caelan Doris returns from a knee injury to lead the Ireland team for this crunch penultimate round match.

Number 8 Doris is one of three players – alongside Finlay Bealham and Jack Conan – who are set to win their 50th Test caps in green this weekend.

In doing so, tighthead prop Bealham will become the 58th player to reach the half century milestone, with Doris the 59th, and fellow back rower Conan set to be the 60th should he feature off the bench.

Having announced their decision to call time on their illustrious international careers at the conclusion of the Six Nations, Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy, and Conor Murray are all included in the matchday 23 and are in line for their final Ireland appearances on home soil.

Hugo Keenan returns to the full-back position, with Jamie Osborne switching to the right wing and James Lowe continuing on the left, while Bundee Aki partners Robbie Henshaw in the centre. Garry Ringrose is suspended following his red card against Wales.

The back-line is completed by Leinster half-backs Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park, and Connacht’s Bealham rejoins Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan, Ireland’s stand-in captain in Cardiff, in the front row.

Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne pack down together in the engine room, and O’Mahony will win his 113th Ireland cap in a back row that also features Josh van der Flier and the fit-again Doris.

Ulster hooker Rob Herring is poised for his first appearance of the 2025 Championship, as part of a 6-2 split on the bench. Healy, Thomas Clarkson, James Ryan, Conan, and Ryan Baird are the other forward reinforcements, while Murray and Jack Crowley will cover the backs.

Mack Hansen (quad) and Rónan Kelleher (neck) were unavailable for selection due to injury, while this afternoon’s heavyweight tussle came too soon for Tadhg Furlong who continues to progress in his rehabilitation.

As Ireland, who beat France during the 2023 and 2024 Six Nations, target their fourth win of this year’s tournament, Easterby commented: “Saturday presents another huge opportunity for the squad to play at home, in front of a packed Aviva Stadium.

“The team has worked hard again this week, and the preparation has been positive for what we know will be a huge test against France.

“There’s great respect and rivalry between the two teams, and it should be a cracking contest. This weekend gives the Irish public the chance to mark the final home international appearances for Peter, Cian, and Conor – three stalwarts of Irish Rugby who help drive the highest standards in our camp.

“I would also like to congratulate Finlay, Jack, and Caelan on reaching the 50-cap milestone. It’s a huge moment for them, their families, and their team-mates, and we will look to make it a day to remember for each of these players.”

Meanwhile, as anticipated, Romain Ntamack returns from suspension to line out with captain Antoine Dupont as France’s half-back pairing for the 29th time.

France head coach Fabien Galthié’s only other personnel change from the 74-23 bonus point victory over Italy sees Damian Penaud preferred on the right wing ahead of Théo Atissogbé.

Bordeaux-Bègles back Penaud is one try away from equalling Serge Blanco’s 38-try French international record. Ntamack’s return sees Thomas Ramos revert to the full-back position.

La Rochelle’s Grégory Alldritt has recovered from a groin issue to feature again at number 8. Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka, and Uini Atonio start together in les Bleus’ front row for a fifth consecutive Test.

Despite Gaël Fickou’s return to training, Pierre-Louis Barassi and Yoram Moefana continue their centre partnership, while Emmanuel Meafou and Hugo Auradou come in as part of a 7-1 bench split. Scrum half Maxime Lucu is the only replacement back.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Fixtures/Results

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD RFC/Leinster); Jamie Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers RFC/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD RFC/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne FC/Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD RFC/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) (capt).

Replacements: Rob Herring (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Cian Healy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), James Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen FC/Munster), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster).

FRANCE: Thomas Ramos (Toulouse); Damian Penaud (Bordeaux-Bègles), Pierre-Louis Barassi (Toulouse), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Bègles), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles); Romain Ntamack (Toulouse), Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) (capt); Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Thibaud Flament (Toulouse), Mickaël Guillard (Lyon), Francois Cros (Toulouse), Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle), Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle).

Replacements: Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse), Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux-Bègles).

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley, Christophe Ridley (both England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (England)

Pre-Match Quotes: Caelan Doris (Ireland) –

We’re very much aware of the threat France pose and the quality they’ve got individually, but what they can do collectively as well.

“We’ve seen that with some of the scorelines they’ve put down against some other quality teams, and we’ve experienced it first-hand as well a number of times too so we’re definitely aware that we’re going to need to be at our best.

“But there’s excitement to go there and to have our best performance yet. Some of the fixtures against France in the past are up there with my favourite games that I’ve been involved in.

“Marseille last year was a special venue to play in, very cool. Thinking back to the Aviva in ’23, unbelievable atmosphere, very good game.

“One of the highest ball-in-play times I think that we’ve had. So it’s two teams with an attacking mindset and attacking desire, and hopefully it will make for a good watch.”

Antoine Dupont (France) –

Ireland have lost very few matches, they have a very rigorous system that we know. They’re (strong) attacking and defending. They have very clear processes that allow them to win matches against all the teams in the world.

“They’re doing a very good job – it also pushes us to be at our best level to be able to compete with this kind of team.

“It will be up to us to be the master of our game, not to make mistakes, not to give the opportunity to the Irish to attack us with penalties.

“We know when it’s like that they’re hard to stop. We see all the games played on their defence, they almost always manage to slow down the ball. It’s a very well done job.

“We see that they know the laws very well and that they are at the limit of being penalised – they’re not always at the limit, they’re very good at it.

“So it’s up to us to do our best to get fast ball, and if they are at the limit, we hope we’ll do very well. We’ll play fair, but we’re not worried about it.”

Pre-Match Interviews & Videos –

Easterby: Jamie Gives Us Flexibility In Terms Of His Positioning

‘Caelan’s Done Incredibly Well To Get Back’ – Easterby

‘Home Support Definitely Gives Us Added Edge’ – Doris

Doris: There’s Excitement To Have Our Best Performance Yet

Murray: Jamo’s Grown Into One Of The Best Players Around