The Men’s Six Nations returns this week with a mighty roar. The opening match, the first-ever Thursday-night opener, sees defending champions France take on Ireland in Paris.
This is a crucial battle in the competition, with the six teams facing each other in a single round-robin format over the next six weekends. France is the heavy favorite, despite being one place behind Ireland in the Men’s Rugby World Rankings.
Keep an eye out later this week as we preview Saturday’s other two Six Nations clashes. Italy hosts Scotland in Rome, and Wales travels to Twickenham to face England.
France VS Ireland
Thursday, 5 February – State de France, Paris
History
This Thursday’s encounter has been scheduled so that the match doesn’t clash with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan on Friday night. It will be interesting to see how this affects the crowd, especially how many Irish supporters will travel to Paris and make a long weekend out of it.
These two teams have won the last four Six Nations’ crowns. Iteland won back-to-back in 2023 and 2024, when their squad was peaking for a run at the World Cup. France claimed the title in 2022 and 2023. This contest will have much to say about the destination of the Six Nations trophy deep into the 2027 World Cup cycle.
Historically, this matchup has belonged to France. Ireland has bested Les Bleus just 37 times, while France has come out on top on 620 occasions. Tests have ended in a draw seven times.
That dominance has been felt less in recent years. The sides have split the last ten contests, winning five apiece.
France
France is the only team against which Ireland doesn’t have an overall winning record since the birth of the Six Nations. The French have won 13 matches to Ireland’s 11.
France is actually on a rough run of form. They have won two and lost four since the end of last year’s Six Nations, including a 3-0 whitewash by New Zealand and a 32-17 loss to South Africa in November.
The French also return the player many see as the best in world rugby. Antoine Dupont captains the side and starts at scrum-half for the first time since tearing his ACL in Dublin against Ireland in last year’s Six Nations.
Ireland
One stat that doesn’t bode well for Ireland is that, as they beat France in Paris in 2024, the last time they faced the French in an away game, a win on Thursday would make back-to-back wins on French soil. The last time they managed that was when it was still the Five Nations, way back in the 1920s.
Ireland has had a similar run of form to their hosts after finishing third in the Six Nations last year, despite winning four of their five matches. They also tasted defeat at the hands of the All Blacks and Springboks in 2025, but they can look to a dominant 46-19 win over Australia in November as a sign that things are moving in the right direction.
Ireland is without a host of household names. Bundee Aki is suspended, while Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furling, Mack Hansen, and Hugo Keenan are among those missing through injury.
Best Bets
France with the handicap for me. Ireland just has too many key players out injured, and the recurring question of who should play in the No. 10 jersey remains a major issue. Frane has rotated because of players in form, while Irlenad has rotated out of necessity. That is never a good thing. France by 15 or more feels like the likely outcome.
