It’s the biggest game of the competition by far at the Aviva Stadium, with victory for defending back-to-back champions Ireland all-but guaranteeing a historic third successive championship and fifth Grand Slam, with only a trip to Italy – to whom they have lost only once in the Six Nations era – left to come on Super Saturday.
The table-toppers have not skipped a beat under the tutelage of interim coach Simon Easterby with usual boss Andy Farrell preparing for the summer British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, outlasting a resurgent Wales outfit in a surprisingly tough test in Cardiff before the second fallow week to clinch a 14th Triple Crown having already fought back at home to see off England in round one and then brushed aside Scotland at Murrayfield.
It is up to France then to take the title fight into the last day, also keeping alive England’s rather faint hopes in the process, with Les Bleus in resurgent mood themselves having put 73 points – the second-most ever in a Six Nations match – on Italy in dry and sunny Rome last time out to bounce back swiftly from a shock last-gasp defeat at rainy Twickenham in round two that followed an opening night demolition of Wales.
Ireland vs France date, kick-off time and venue
Ireland vs France takes place on Saturday March 8, 2025 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:15pm GMT, which is 3:15pm CET in France.
How to watch Ireland vs France
TV channel: In the UK, Ireland vs France is being shown live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage of the rugby beginning at 1:25pm GMT.
Live stream: Live coverage of the game is also available online via ITVX.
Live blog: Follow the action on Saturday with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Ireland vs France team news
Ireland have influential captain Caelan Doris fit to return from a knee injury in a major boost at No8 as he earns his 50th Test cap. He comes back in for Jack Conan.
There is a change too at tighthead prop as Finlay Bealham returns at the expense of Thomas Clarkson with Tadhg Furlong still out, while Mack Hansen’s absence with a quad issue means that Jamie Osborne moves from full-back to the wing as Hugo Keenan is restored to the No15 shirt.
Bundee Aki is back into the starting lineup to partner Robbie Henshaw – who moves to 13 – in the centres with Garry Ringrose suspended after his red card against Wales.
Flanker Peter O’Mahony will make his final home appearance before retirement, likewise Cian Healy and Conor Murray off the bench. Rob Herring backs up Dan Sheehan at hooker again with no Ronan Kelleher.
Returns: France have recalled both Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud to start against Ireland in Dublin
AFP via Getty Images
France have restored Romain Ntamack at fly-half following his suspension having also been sent off against Wales on opening night, with Thomas Ramos reverting to full-back and Leo Barre dropping out of the squad altogether despite scoring twice against Italy.
Damian Penaud is also recalled in place of Theo Attissogbe on the wing after being dropped for the trip to Rome, while Gregory Alldritt has shaken off a groin problem to start as usual at the base of the scrum.
Fabien Galthie has named another bold, Springbok-esque 7-1 bench split that includes only scrum-half Maxime Lucu as back cover.
Otherwise it’s all forwards, with lock Emmanuel Meafou back in the squad but not starting after illness. Ireland have resisted the urge to go 7-1 themselves in response, though their bench is 6-2 with Murray and fly-half Jack Crowley the only backs.
Ireland vs France lineups
Ireland XV: Keenan; Osborne, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham; McCarthy, Beirne; O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris (c)
Replacements: Herring, Healy, Clarkson, Ryan, Conan, Baird, Murray, Crowley
France XV: Ramos; Penaud, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Ntamack, Dupont (c); Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio; Flament, Guillard; Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt
Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Aldegheri, Meafou, Auradou, Jegou, Jelonch, Lucu
Ireland vs France head to head (h2h) history and results
Ireland have crucially won this headline fixture in back-to-back years to ensure title success, running out decisive 38-17 victors in Marseille last year in a statement bonus-point victory on opening night against a France team without superstar captain Antoine Dupont and who saw Paul Willemse sent off.
It was 32-19 to the Men in Green in a cracking contest in Dublin two years ago, while France won the two previous meetings before that including in their 2022 Grand Slam run.
Ireland vs France prediction
The Six Nations once again comes down to a massive Ireland vs France showdown, the teams that currently sit second and fourth respectively as the only European representatives in the top five of the world rankings.
This should be another spectacular, unmissable occasion full of off-the-scale physicality that will not relent for even a moment across the full 80 minutes with so much power in reserve for both sides.
Tries are unlikely to be in short supply either with some of the best finishers around, so it has all the ingredients to be a thrilling battle for the ages with so much at stake.
Ireland were given a sterner-than-expected challenge by a more balanced Wales team galvanised by the appointment of Matt Sherratt as Warren Gatland’s interim replacement, but they still got the job done to showcase their mental resilience and calmness under pressure.
They will also have the added emotional punch this week of three legends of Irish rugby all lining up in Dublin for the final time in O’Mahony, Healy and Murray.
Emotional: Conor Murray, Cian Healy and Peter O’Mahony will all be playing for Ireland in Dublin for the last time
Getty Images
France, meanwhile, proved that their slip-up in the wet of Twickenham was likely to prove only a minor blip as Italy were utterly torn apart a fortnight ago.
They need another title soon to stop Galthie’s critics claiming once again that he is wasting a golden generation of talent, with that 2022 Grand Slam their only tangible trophy success since 2010.
It is genuinely so, so difficult to pick a winner here, but we’re giving the edge to Ireland again purely because of home advantage. Let’s just hope for a classic.
Ireland to win, by three points.
Ireland vs France match odds
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
