The 2024 Six Nations kicks off on Friday evening with a massive clash in Marseille as the reigning holders, Ireland, face France.
- France vs Ireland
- 8:00 pm, Friday, February 2nd
- Orange Velodrome, Marseille
Friday’s match will be both country’s first games since their Rugby World Cup quarter-final losses, and the winner of this clash will fancy their chances of landing this year’s Six Nations.
This duo are the dominant rugby sides in the northern hemisphere and are joint-favourites to win the 2024 Six Nations with the bookmakers.
Ireland head into the tournament without the retired Johnny Sexton, while Fabian Galthie’s French side must do without Antoine Dupont, who has chosen to miss this year’s Six Nations.
With two new captains and both sides dealing with the omission of key players, it’s set to be a titanic clash in the south of France on Friday evening.
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France vs Ireland Betting Tips
Check out our France vs Ireland betting tips below.
France (-4 points)
Les Bleus have an excellent record at home in recent years, and they have been the only team to defeat Ireland across their last three Six Nations tournaments.
They face an Irish side that has struggled post-World Cup in previous Six Nations, finishing in 3rd place in the last three tournaments following a World Cup year.
Home advantage has tended to be crucial in this clash, and with Ireland a team in the process of rebuilding, France can get off to a winning start on Friday and cover a four-point handicap in the process.
Damian Penaud to score the first try
Penaud topped the try-scoring charts in the Six Nations last year, and the French winger has been in devastating form in recent months, bagging six tries at the Rugby World Cup and also topping the Top 14 try count with new club Bordeaux.
He scored a brace against Saracens in his last run out for his club side, and he looks a fair price at 7/1 to nab the opening try in Marseille.
Team Lineups
We take a closer look at the two lineups for Friday’s titanic clash in Marseille.
France
France have made five changes to the side beaten by the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, including Bordeaux scrum-half Maxime Lucu, who replaces the reigning Six Nations Player of the Year Antoine Dupont who has joined the national Sevens squad ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
- Cyril Baille
- Pesto Mauvaka
- Uini Atonio
- Paul Gabrillagues
- Paul Willemse
- Francois Cros
- Charles Ollivon
- Gregory Alldritt (c)
- Maxime Lucu
- Matthieu Jalibert
- Yoram Moefana
- Jonathan Danty
- Gael Fickou
- Damian Penaud
- Thomas Ramos
Ireland
Ireland coach Andy Farrell has made four changes to the side that lost to the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup. All eyes will be on Munster fly-half Jack Crowley, who makes his Six Nations debut following the retirement of Johnny Sexton.
- Andrew Porter
- Dan Sheehan
- Tadhg Furlong
- Joe McCarthy
- Tadhg Beirne
- Peter O’Mahony (c)
- Josh van der Flier
- Caelan Doris
- Jamison Gibson-Park
- Jack Crowley
- James Lowe
- Bundee Aki
- Robbie Henshaw
- Calvin Nash
- Hugo Keenan
Previous Results
Check out the last five results between France and Ireland in the Six Nations below.
| Year | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ireland 32-19 France | Dublin |
| 2022 | France 30-24 Ireland | Paris |
| 2021 | Ireland 13-15 France | Dublin |
| 2020 | France 35-27 Ireland | Paris |
| 2019 | Ireland 26-14 France | Dublin |
