Ireland v France - Teams and Prediction
ROUND FOUR PREVIEW: The battle for the Six Nations title will be decided by the scrum battle in Saturday’s “cracking contest” between Ireland and France.
That is the view of Irish great Hugo MacNeill.
The hosts are the only side still capable of achieving the Grand Slam.
A win over the French would leave them needing to beat an Italy side, already demolished by France in this tournament, in Rome on Saturday week to secure an unprecedented third successive Six Nations crown.
However, France arrives having swept aside both Wales and the Italians in magisterial style, their Grand Slam hopes dashed by an error-strewn defeat to England, who also still entertain outside hopes of the title.
Such is France’s points difference that a win against the Irish – they are the last side to win a Six Nations match in Dublin, in 2021 – would make them favourites for the title with a final game at home to unpredictable Scotland.
MacNeill, a key member of Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning sides in 1982 and 1985, said home advantage played in Ireland’s favour but France for him are “slight favourites” as they are more of a “finished article” as a team.
Nevertheless, MacNeill says if the Irish can match their opponents up front then they are in with a chance of keeping their Grand Slam dreams alive.
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“France is very powerful. They look very strong,” he told AFP.
“It’s going to be a colossal confrontation up front.
“I think the French will come with the attitude, ‘We’ve got to really take on Ireland and dominate Ireland and bully Ireland a little bit up front. Get at [lock] Joe McCarthy, get at the front row’.”
‘Real firepower’
The Irish come into the game on the back of a scratchy 27-18 win over the Welsh, which secured the Triple Crown, while the French thrashed Italy 73-24.
MacNeill, though, thinks the Irish team fell victim to believing the media coverage suggesting they were heading for an easy win, saying: “It is really hard to insulate yourself from that.”
While the 66-year-old former fullback believes the hosts may have a “little bit of fear” that if they do not play well, they will suffer a heavy defeat, he believes the visitors too may have worries of a repeat of their performance against England.
“It’s very hard to turn the ship around if you’re mentally not there and the other team is suddenly saying, hey, we are in with a real chance,” said MacNeill.
“The crowd gets behind them. You’re kind of a bit isolated. You feel a bit far from home. And it’s very hard to turn that around if you start like that.
“What was kind of impressive about Ireland against Wales was they did turn it around.”
MacNeill says Ireland really need to hold their own in the scrums and deny too much possession to the French because their backs, led by captain and scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, have shown more this campaign than the Irish.
“Antoine Dupont is playing so well,” MacNeill said.
“The other members of the backline look to have a little bit of a cutting edge at the moment… [more] than Ireland have.
“It’s great to see as a lover of French rugby.
“They’ll bring real firepower to Dublin on Saturday.”
Antoine Dupont denies Ireland with one of the greatest tackles in rugby’s history! 🔥😤#GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/urt2mlgN1P
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 5, 2025
MacNeill says if Ireland can get a 50-50 balance in terms of scrums then it will be up to the flyhalf Sam Prendergast to make sure the ball is used effectively.
The 22-year-old has shown few nerves in being the first-choice starter this Six Nations ahead of last year’s title-winning flyhalf Jack Crowley.
MacNeill feels both are “close to filling” the enormous boots of predecessor Johnny Sexton and Saturday’s game will be another chapter in Prendergast’s development.
However, win or lose, he thinks the future looks good for the Irish.
“Ireland would love to win three in a row,” he said.
“But I think irrespective of what happens, Ireland are in a good place at the moment.”
Players to watch
For Ireland: Jamie Osborne, who stood in for Hugo Keenan against Wales, moves to the wing as Mack Hansen has a thigh injury. Easterby said Osborne’s versatility earned him the nod ahead of an out and out wing such as Calvin Nash. Keenan returns to his fullback role, while Bundee Aki comes into partner Robbie Henshaw in the centres for the suspended Garry Ringrose. Irish captain Caelan Doris is fit and he will win his 50th cap.
For France: Flyhalf Romain Ntamack returns from suspension and No.8 Gregory Alldritt has recovered from a groin issue for Saturday’s match in Dublin. Ntamack can be devastating with ball in hand and his partnership with Antoine Dupont will send shivers down the spines of Irish fans. Meanwhile, Alldritt is a colossus in the No.8 jersey and he will be a valuable asset in the physical exchanges. If the French get enough quality ball, the back three of Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey will give the Irish plenty of problems.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction
@rugby365com: France by five points.
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jamie Osborne, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Ryan Baird, 22 Conor Murray, 23 Jack Crowley.
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Emmanuel Meafou, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Anthony Jelonch, 23 Maxime Lucu.
Date: Saturday, March 8
Venue: Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Kick-off: 14.15 (15.15 France time; 14.15 GMT)
Expected weather: Sunny intervals with a gentle breeze with a temperature around 11°C.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
AFP & @rugby365com
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