Winning the Six Nations will go some way to erasing the pain of not winning the Rugby World Cup for France and Ireland.
Whoever wins their opening-game showdown in Marseille on Friday will be in the driver’s seat again for the Six Nations title. Their matchup in the last two years has decided the fate of the championship. Both times the host won and went on to a Grand Slam; France in 2022 and Ireland in 2023.
With the Stade de France unavailable while its refurbished for the Paris Olympics, French rugby chose the more intimate Stade Velodrome for their toughest challenger.
“We could have filled the Velodrome three times over,” France coach Fabien Galthié says. “France loves playing there.” France is undefeated at home away from Paris under Galthié.
Ireland doesn’t expect to go into the lion’s den alone. The sensational support of Irish fans was one of the highlights of the World Cup last September-October, and coach Andy Farrell believes they’ll be there for the team again.
“I was unbelievably proud how we connected with our fans,” Farrell says. “That, for me, continues by how we get back on the horse. A lot of Irish booked flights to the (World Cup) semifinal then (when Ireland didn’t make it) I heard a lot transferred their flights to Marseille, so they’re expecting a performance from us. We’ve got to stand up to a responsibility like that. It doesn’t guarantee us being successful but we’ve got to show fight.”
France and Ireland, the northern hemisphere’s leading lights at the Rugby World Cup, were stunningly knocked out in thrilling quarterfinals by eventual finalists South Africa and New Zealand.
From those matches, France has retained 10 starters and Ireland 11. Each team kicks without its captain and biggest name: France’s Antoine Dupont and Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton.
Dupont is trying to make the France sevens side for the Olympics. His understudy since 2021, Maxime Lucu, starts at scrumhalf, and will be passing to Bordeaux clubmate Matthieu Jalibert.
No. 8 Gregory Alldritt has the captaincy and the locks are changed. Back in harness are Paul Willemse, who missed the World Cup because of injury, and Paul Gabrillagues, recalled for the first time since the 2019 World Cup.
Also, Yoram Moefana was preferred to Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the left wing among changes where Galthié went for “combative intensity” over speed.
“We will need it because Ireland will force us into making 200 tackles, into 200 rucks without possession.”
Following Sexton’s retirement, Jack Crowley is at flyhalf for his 10th Irish cap and first Six Nations start, with backup from Ciaran Frawley, who has one cap.
Lock Joe McCarthy and winger Calvin Nash, in place of the injured Iain Henderson and Mack Hansen, will make their Six Nations debuts and veteran center Robbie Henshaw starts in place of Garry Ringrose, who has a shoulder issue.
“It’s unbelievably tough (to win the Six Nations),” scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park says, “and it’s the perfect start really for us to see where we’re at, facing France in their backyard. There’s no shortage of motivation.”
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Lineups:
France: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Yoram Moefana, Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu; Gregory Alldritt (captain), Charles Ollivon, Francois Cros, Paul Willemse, Paul Gabrillagues, Uini Atonio, Peato Mauvaka, Cyril Baille. Reserves: Julien Marchand, Reda Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Paul Boudehent, Nolann Le Garrec, Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley.
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