France head coach Fabien Galthie has named his side that will face Ireland in the 2026 Six Nations opener, with Antoine Dupont leading the team on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Toulouse\u2019s Dupont will link up with Bordeaux-Begles fly-half Matthieu Jalibert in an exciting half-back combination, with Romain Ntamack currently on the sideline injured.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the backline, there\u2019s a start for Theo Attissogbe on the right wing, who takes the jersey of a dropped Damian Penaud, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey wears number 11.<\/p>\n
Ramos at full-back<\/p>\n
The reliable Thomas Ramos continues in the full-back position with Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere at the midfield partnership for the game at the Stade de France.<\/p>\n
Anthony Jelonch is backed at number eight in an impressive back row which includes flankers Oscar Jegou and Francois Cros, while Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard form the mobile second row pairing selected by Galthie. Hugo Auradou, Emmanuel Meafou and Lenni Nouchi will look to provide serious impact off the bench in France<\/a>\u2018s back five.<\/p>\n Finally, in the starting XV, Dorian Aldegheri is the tighthead prop in the absence of Uini Atonio, while Jean-Baptiste Gros is loosehead alongside reliable hooker Julien Marchand.<\/p>\n Injury-hit Ireland decimated as three inexperienced props picked in the 23 while James Lowe misses out<\/a><\/p>\n Six Nations prediction: Fabien Galthie\u2019s \u2018calculated gamble\u2019 to pay off as France claim consecutive titles<\/a><\/p>\n The other forward bench options at Galthie\u2019s disposal are hooker Peato Mauvaka and props Rodrigue Neti and Regis Montagne, who will no doubt have a key role to play.<\/p>\n France\u2019s backline options will be scrum-half Baptiste Serin and the promising Toulouse centre Kalvin Gourgues, who\u2019s set for a breakthrough Six Nations<\/a> Championship.<\/p>\n Les Bleus come into the tournament opener as hot favourites, due in part to Ireland being struck by injuries, notably at loosehead prop, where they are without three players.<\/p>\n Ireland<\/a> boss Andy Farrell is also without Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and Robbie Henshaw in his backline as the visitors enter the Stade de France far from full strength.<\/p>\n France team to face Ireland<\/p>\n France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont<\/a> (c), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Charles Ollivon, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros Date: Thursday, February 5 Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Kalvin Gourgues<\/p>\n
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Kick-off: 21:10 local time (20:10 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (RA), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)<\/p>\n