France launched the defence of their Six Nations title in emphatic fashion, sweeping aside Ireland 36-14 at the Stade de France on Thursday, dominating play for long stretches before easing off once the bonus point was secured. With Antoine Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert back after a year's absence, the pair orchestrated France's attacking rhythm with authority and precision, guiding Fabien Galthie's side through a near-flawless opening hour.
Les Bleus scored through tries by Louis Bielle-Biarrey (2), Jalibert, Charles Ollivon and Theo Attissogbe, the rest of the points coming from the boot of the ever-reliable Thomas Ramos. After being held scoreless in the first, Ireland, who with France have shared the last four titles, responded with a couple of quick tries by Nick Timoney and Michael Milne, both converted by Sam Prendergast.
Ireland captain Caelan Doris admitted that his side were “too passive” in defence, with Les Bleus ripping the 2024 champions apart at will, particularly in the first half, as they went in at half time with a healthy 22-0 lead. France take on Wales next week, after Ireland host Italy.
France vs Ireland latest news
- TRY! Attissogbe rounds off scoring
- TRY! Milne scores Irish second
- TRY! Timoney gets Ireland on scoreboard
- TRY! Bielle-Biarrey scores fourth
- TRY! Ollivon dots down third
'Lack of intensity' - Farrell
22:35 , Oli Gent"There's a lot going through our minds at this moment in time, we're very disappointed,“ Andy Farrell told ITV.
“Through something I never thought I'd say about this Ireland team, a lack of intensity in the first half.
"Missed tackles, missing the scraps on the ground and the ball in the air, it's just intention and if that is lacking you are not going to win any international game never mind one in Paris."
'Too passive' - Doris
22:14 , Oli GentCaelan Doris was speaking to ITV, admitting that he was disappointed with his side’s defensive showing.
"We left ourselves too tall a mountain to climb in the first half,” he said.
“We were too passive defensively, there were 19 missed tackles which allowed them to flourish with keeping the ball alive and their attacking game.
"The first 30 minutes we couldn't find our feet, we allowed them to get phases and score off the back.
“The bench made a good impact when they came on got us back into the game a bit and got our energy going so there was a bit of grit and determination in the second half. Very disappointing way to start the campaign."
FT: France 36-14 Ireland
21:59 , Oli GentThere we have it. What a performance from the holders. Victorious on day one.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE Six Nations action.
Try! France 36-14 Ireland
21:57 , Oli Gent80 mins: And there is that final flourish! Attissogbe gets in on the act, diving over after a great break from Serin. Ramos adds the extras.
France 29-14 Ireland
21:55 , Oli Gent79 mins: What a step from Ringrose, breaking the French line and gets some much-needed support from Prendergast. France are still in search of a final flourish, but Gibson-Park is there to sweep up from the clip over the top from Ramos.
France 29-14 Ireland
21:51 , Oli Gent77 mins: Held up! The power game is back for France as Aradou makes a brilliant steal. Depoortere looks to force it over, but he’s held up.
France 29-14 Ireland
21:49 , Oli Gent75 mins: A standing ovation for Dupont as he is replaced by Serin.
France 29-14 Ireland
21:48 , Oli Gent74 mins: Final decision, no try. Scrum down, France ball for the knock-on.
France 29-14 Ireland
21:46 , Oli Gent73 mins: Into the 18th phase, but that’s been knocked on, according to the French players. Everyone stops, as Kelleher touches down, but the referee didn’t see it and goes upstairs!
France 29-14 Ireland
21:45 , Oli Gent72 mins: Doris claims it and feeds Osborne outside him. Gibson-Park takes over, with Doris carrying through a couple of challenges with Bealham and Conan in support. Ryan is floored with the phases building as Ireland get closer and closer, but Nouchi puts in a huge tackle to drive the Irish forwards back.
France 29-14 Ireland
21:44 , Oli Gent71 mins: Penalty, Ireland. Prendergast plays it safe, looking for touch and landing the kick just outside the 22. A chance here for the visitors. Can they mount an unlikely comeback?
France 29-14 Ireland
21:39 , Oli Gent67 mins: Ringrose goes full tilt chasing the kick forwards, and how nonchalant is that by Ramos to pluck it out of the air with the centre almost bulldozing him?
France 29-14 Ireland
21:36 , Oli Gent64 mins: Try given, and the wind is in the Irish sails at the moment... surely not?
France 29-14 Ireland
21:33 , Oli Gent63 mins: But hang on a second... TMO is looking at whether this went forward in the build-up or if the ball got lodged backwards on grounding...
Try! France 29-14 Ireland
21:33 , Oli Gent63 mins: Milne is the scorer, after a great drive from the maul, and McCluskey’s carry is superb. Three straight collision wins leads to Milne dotting down with an offside advantage thrown in for good measure.
France 29-7 Ireland
21:32 , Oli Gent62 mins: Gibson-Park gives it short, looking for Milne as the big forwards look to crash over...
France 29-7 Ireland
21:32 , Oli Gent61 mins: Penalty, Ireland. The referee goes over to talk to the linesman on the far side after Dupont tries to knock it on intentionally, but he escapes the card and Ireland get the penalty that goes right into the corner... momentum is with them...
Try! France 29-7 Ireland
21:29 , Oli Gent59 mins: And it’s Timoney who gets the visitors on the scoreboard. They show some bravery as Crowley and Prendergast step up, tempting the defenders out, before Timoney breaks the line to slide over. Prendergast lines up the kick, and knocks it over.
France 29-0 Ireland
21:28 , Oli Gent58 mins: Pressure from the Irish as they make some crucial yards towards the French line...
France 29-0 Ireland
21:23 , Oli Gent54 mins: Some slower, pick and go stuff from France with the introduction of Montagne. He is absolutely massive. A man Montagne, anyone?
France 29-0 Ireland
21:19 , Oli Gent51 mins: A whole host of changes for both sides, with replacements aplenty in the pack.
France 29-0 Ireland
21:18 , Oli Gent51 mins: Ramos with a lovely release pop to find Depoortere, and there’s a knock-on in the process. Scrum down, France ball.
Try! France 29-0 Ireland
21:16 , Oli Gent48 mins: That is superb from Ramos after Dupont’s clip over the top. The 15 improvises brilliantly with his left-footed volley right into the path of the onrushing Bielle-Biarrey to touch down the fourth! Ramos adds the extras.
France 22-0 Ireland
21:14 , Oli Gent46 mins: The collapsed scrum from the home side gives Gibson-Park a first chance of the match to kick for touch, and he does, but the visitors are pushed back after the line-out doesn’t materialise into a yard-gaining opportunity.
France 22-0 Ireland
21:12 , Oli Gent44 mins: It’s been more of the same from the hosts since the restart, but McCarthy does really well in the maul from the French line-out. He drives Marchand back, ripping the ball out of his hands and the referee calls it back for the scrum.
Kick off!
21:08 , Oli Gent41 mins: We’re back underway.
HT: France 22-0 Ireland
20:52 , Oli GentThere’s the interval. One way traffic here.
What will the second half have in store?
France 22-0 Ireland
20:52 , Oli Gent40 mins: Osborne boots it out with a number of the Irish players looking a bit worse for wear. They’ve been ran ragged in this first half.
France 22-0 Ireland
20:48 , Oli Gent37 mins: It’s a real uphill struggle for the visitors now, with Les Bleus in full flow. Dupont and Jalibert are right at it this evening, pulling the strings from half-back.
Try! France 22-0 Ireland
20:47 , Oli Gent34 mins: That is liquid rugby, as the third goes over! Ollivon is the scorer, and Guillard should take full credit after Jalibert’s improvisation is picked up by Gros, who feeds the two locks. Ramos knocks over the additional two points.
France 15-0 Ireland
20:42 , Oli Gent32 mins: The knock-on advantage works well for Ireland as Sheehan bursts forward. Both Prendergasts combine, with McCluskey in close support. Sam Prendergast is playing football with the loose ball as Ramos tries to dive desperately on it, and the ball bobbles out!
France 15-0 Ireland
20:41 , Oli Gent30 mins: A good, sensible kick from Ramos, kicking long and into touch, deep in Ireland territory.
France 15-0 Ireland
20:39 , Oli Gent29 mins: Ramos is going for the posts with an easy penalty. He knocks it over with no issues.
France 12-0 Ireland
20:37 , Oli Gent26 mins: Two sucker punches for the Irish. What can they muster with over a quarter of the game already gone?
Try! France 12-0 Ireland
20:34 , Oli Gent22 mins: There’s the second, and Jalibert announces his return in style! The hosts don’t go for the drive, stepping to the left, Gros twists his body, and there’s the element of surprise, as Jalibert darts in to dot down. Ramos can’t add the extras!
France 7-0 Ireland
20:33 , Oli Gent21 mins: Close! Dupont with a quick offload as Attissogbe is converged on by Prendergast, who plays O’Brien into trouble on his own tryline, but the winger is able to ground for the five-metre. Pressure still on.
France 7-0 Ireland
20:32 , Oli Gent20 mins: A quick France penalty as Guillard plays it off the tap and Moefana and Jalibert link up in tight areas. Jegou and Gros crash through, looking to break the Ireland line. It’s a real mix of pace and power from Les Bleus.
France 7-0 Ireland
20:28 , Oli Gent17 mins: Scrum down, France ball. A knock-on from Clarkson at the breakdown, with the scrum just off the Ireland 22.
Try! France 7-0 Ireland
20:25 , Oli Gent13 mins: Bielle-Biarrey breaks clear after some lovely play from Moefana and Ramos, and the winger touches down as he breaks through the desperate challenges. Ramos converts!
France 0-0 Ireland
20:23 , Oli Gent12 mins: Dupont goes for a clever, soft box kick, looking for Depoortere with the bounce, but it’s not kind for the France No13. It’s turned over, however, and France can counter with Ramos, looking to jink his way through the bodies.
France 0-0 Ireland
20:20 , Oli Gent9 mins: Gibson-Park with an up and over kick looking for Stockdale to invert and claim, but the hosts hold him up well. It’s turned over, however, with another cross-field kick, this time from Prendergast, which is an absolute beauty looking for O’Brien, but Ramos is over on that right flank to clean up.
France 0-0 Ireland
20:17 , Oli Gent7 mins: Ireland work it through the hands quickly, with the maul not forming. Van der Flier looks to feed Prendergast, but he rushes the offload back into the flanker, and the referee calls it back for a knock-on. Scrum down, France ball.
France 0-0 Ireland
20:16 , Oli Gent6 mins: That’s good defending from McCluskey, turning the ball over, and that is a superb kick from Osborne, as it bounces inside the 22, and the visitors have a fantastic chance from this first line-out of the match.
France 0-0 Ireland
20:15 , Oli Gent5 mins: Gibson-Park retrieves the ball quickly and gets a big kick downfield. But the French come flooding back towards them...
France 0-0 Ireland
20:14 , Oli Gent3 mins: What a chance! Dupont is right at the heart of the action, spinning it out to Bielle-Biarrey, who feeds Ollivon after Moefana’s offload. The Ireland recovery just about puts it behind, and we’ll have a five-metre. What a start for the hosts.
Kick off!
20:10 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning!
20:05 , Oli GentThe players are out, and it’s time for the anthems.
Ten minutes to kick off
20:00 , Oli GentWho will win this one?
Star man
19:57 , Oli Gent🇫🇷 Last year's top try scorer and Player of the Championships.
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) February 5, 2026
Can Louis Bielle-Biarrey repeat his heroics? 🌟 pic.twitter.com/FirenzSD3v
Andy Farrell's pre-match thoughts...
19:50 , Oli Gent"Doesn't get any bigger than this!" 🏉
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 5, 2026
Andy Farrell speaks ahead of Ireland's Six Nations opener vs. France ☘️@SixNationsRugby |@IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/XHjSGEmddo
Six Nations predictions...
19:45 , Oli GentWho do the ITV pundits think will win this tournament?
"Can't look further than France" 🇫🇷
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 5, 2026
The ITV panel discuss which team is best positioned coming into this Six Nations campaign 🏉 @SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/sRXCgJnnug
Everything you need for Six Nations 2026
19:37 , Oli GentSchedule, fixtures, table?
It’s all here in our bumper Six Nations preview....
Why are there adverts during Six Nations games?
19:30 , Oli GentA big change is coming to this year’s tournament. But will fans miss any of the action?
Why is the Six Nations kicking off on Thursday?
19:23 , Oli GentA bit of a weird day to start the tournament, but there is a reason for the strange kick off.
He's back!
19:15 , Oli GentCaelan Doris returns for Andy Farrell’s side tonight...
"It makes you appreciate it much more." 🙏
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) February 5, 2026
Caelen Doris expresses his excitement towards playing in the #SixNations, having missed the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour through injury. 🤕
Watch the full interview on the BBC Sport YouTube channel and listen to the Captains… pic.twitter.com/iPxo8GA4TF
Ireland lineup
19:07 , Oli GentIreland XV: Osborne; O’Brien, Ringrose, McCloskey, Stockdale; S Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Clarkson; McCarthy, Beirne; C Prendergast, Van der Flier, Doris (c)
Replacements: Kelleher, Milne, Bealham, Ryan, Conan, Timoney, Casey, Crowley
France lineup
19:00 , Oli GentFrance XV: Ramos; Attissogbe, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (c); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri; Ollivon, Guillard; Cros, Jegou, Jelonch
Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Montagne, Auradou, Meafou, Nouchi, Serin, Gourgues
Match odds
18:53 , Oli GentFrance to win: 1/7
Ireland to win: 9/2
Draw: 33/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Standard Sport prediction
18:45 , Oli GentIreland have lost just three games across the entirety of the past four Six Nations championships, with the most recent of those defeats - by an unusually lopsided scoreline of 42-27 - coming against eventual champions France in Dublin last year.
The French rallied to overcome the early loss of star skipper Dupont to injury that day, and his availability for a first France cap since then is a huge boost to Galthie’s group.
This is the only Six Nations fixture which has, on average, been decided by fewer than 10 points (8.8), and it has also seen the highest percentage of games won by seven or fewer points (58 per cent).
It is therefore always difficult to pick a winner between these two rugby colossuses, but we’re giving the edge to France due to home advantage as well as Ireland’s worrisome injury list, which includes several absences in key positions.
France to win, by 10 points.
Head to head
18:37 , Oli GentIt is France who remain the overall head-to-head winners in this match-up, having extended their lead with a 60th competitive victory over the Irish in 2025.
Ireland had narrowed the gap in recent years, beating France in their two previous showdowns between 2023 and 2024, while each nation has won five of the last 10 Tests.
France still hold the advantage in Six Nations history, though, having won 13 times to Ireland’s 11. The other two meetings in this tournament have ended as draws.
Ireland wins: 37
France wins: 60
Draws: 7
Ireland team news
18:30 , Oli GentAs for Ireland, a combination of injuries, form and disciplinary issues have left returning head coach Andy Farrell - who missed last year’s competition due to British and Irish Lions commitments - with fewer decisions to make than he may have liked.
Bundee Aki is suspended for Ireland's first three Six Nations matches after being issued a four-game ban for "verbal abuse and disrespect" towards match officials during Connacht’s recent loss to Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Joining him among Ireland’s absentees are the likes of Mack Hansen, Tadhg Furlong, Hugo Keenan - who fractured his hand in training last week - and Andrew Porter, who are all injured, while out-of-form wing James Lowe is left out of the matchday 23 entirely.
Jamie Osborne is fit to start at full-back against France, with Jacob Stockdale and Tommy O’Brien on the wings, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey in the centres and a half-back team of Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park.
Cian Prendergast has been called into the back row alongside captain Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier, the second row features Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy, and up front it’s star hooker Dan Sheehan plus props Jeremy Loughman - making his first Ireland appearance in two years, with first-choice looseheads Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle all sidelined through injury - and Thomas Clarkson, who deputises for Furlong.
Farrell matches Galthie with a 6-2 bench split. In the full 37-man squad there was room for in-form uncapped pair Edwin Edogbo and Nathan Doak, but neither make the matchday squad on this occasion.
France team news
18:20 , Oli GentSo stacked with talent is the French set-up that Galthie has left all-time record try-scorer Damian Penaud, last year’s Six Nations-winning skipper Gregory Alldritt and veteran centre Gael Fickou out of his 42-player tournament squad entirely.
Experienced prop Uini Atonio will play no part, having retired on health grounds following a cardiac event last month, while fly-half Romain Ntamack is out injured.
In come Anthony Jelonch and Theo Attissogbe, starting this first Test at No8 and on the wing, respectively, while star scrum-half Dupont returns to captain his country following a lengthy lay-off that saw him miss much of 2025 with a knee injury picked up against Ireland last year.
Dupont is partnered by fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, who starts amid a strong club campaign for Bordeaux, while last season’s leading try-scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey joins Attissogbe on the wings. Nicolas Depoortere and Yoram Moefana are named in the centre spots and Thomas Ramos is given the nod at 15 to complete a formidable backline.
France’s starting pack against Ireland consists of Francois Cros and Oscar Jegou either side of No8 Jelonch, with locks Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard behind front-rowers Jean-Baptiste Gros, Julien Marchand and Dorian Aldegheri.
On the bench, meanwhile, Galthie has opted for a forward-heavy 6-2 split.
How to watch
18:10 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, France vs Ireland is being shown live and free to air on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 7:20pm GMT.
Live stream: Live coverage of the game will also be available for online streaming via the ITVX website and app, which is free with a registration.
Hello and welcome!
18:02 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the opening game of the Six Nations.
It’s the holders France against Ireland from the Stade de France. What a game to set us off.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 8.10pm GMT.
