The 2024 Six Nations begins with a blockbuster showdown between France and Ireland in Marseille on Friday night.
The two tournament favourites and rugby powerhouses go head to head in arguably the game of the competition, which is once again likely to have a massive say on the final outcome if things go as expected over the next six weeks.
Ireland clinched their fourth Grand Slam on home soil last year against 14-man England having outlasted the then defending Grand Slam champion French in a pulsating Dublin thriller between the planet's two top-ranked sides in round three, only to suffer yet more World Cup heartbreak in the autumn as the much-fancied Men in Green were dumped out by New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
Hosts France quickly followed suit in an all-time classic against eventual winners South Africa, leaving both northern hemisphere giants eager to bounce back with a bang in what could be a captivating Six Nations.
France vs Ireland date, kick-off time and venue
France vs Ireland is the first match of the 2024 Six Nations, taking place on Friday, February 2 at 8pm GMT.
The game will take place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, with the Stade de France currently undergoing renovations ahead of the Olympics in Paris this summer.
How to watch France vs Ireland
TV channel: In the UK, France vs Ireland is being shown live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage starting at 7:15pm.
Live stream: A live stream can also be accessed for free online via the ITVX website and app.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on Friday night via Standard Sport's live Six Nations match blog.
France vs Ireland team news
Ireland are without centre Garry Ringrose due to a shoulder injury as Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are paired in midfield, while Jack Crowley starts at fly-half for the first time following the retirement of influential captain Johnny Sexton after the World Cup.
Veteran flanker Peter O'Mahony leads the team in the absence of Sexton, with Munster's Calvin Nash making his first Six Nations appearance and first senior Ireland start out wide with Mack Hansen missing due to a dislocated shoulder.
There is also a first appearance in the competition for Leinster lock Joe McCarthy, who gets the nod over James Ryan alongside Tadhg Beirne in the second row with Iain Henderson not even in the matchday squad.
Ciaran Frawley and Conor Murray are the only backs selected as head coach Andy Farrell opts for a 6-2 bench split. Jimmy O'Brien and Dave Kilcoyne are among Ireland's other injury absentees.
As for France, talismanic captain Antoine Dupont will not play at all during the Six Nations as he instead prepares for his sevens adventure at a home Olympics in the summer. No8 Gregory Alldritt takes on leadership duties instead.
Maxime Lucu starts at scrum-half with no Dupont as the uncapped Nolann Le Garrec takes a seat on the bench, with Paul Gabrillagues and the fit-again Paul Willemse paired together at lock and Yoram Moefana picked over young Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the wing.
With Romain Ntamack still out with the serious knee injury that forced him to miss the World Cup, Matthieu Jalibert continues at fly-half, teaming up with Bordeaux team-mate Lucu.
Francois Cros is in at flanker with Anthony Jelonch missing with a knee ligament issue that will rule him out for the whole tournament in another key blow for France and Fabien Galthie. Alexandre Roumat has been called up to the squad in his place.
France vs Ireland lineups
Ireland XV: H Keenan; C Nash, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; J McCarthy, T Beirne; P O'Mahony (c), J van der Flier, C Doris
Replacements: R Kelleher, C Healy, F Bealham, J Ryan, R Baird, J Conan, C Murray, C Frawley
France XV: T Ramos; D Penaud, G Fickou, J Danty, Y Moefana; M Jalibert, M Lucu; C Baille, P Mauvaka, U Atonio; P Gabrillagues, P Willemse; F Cros, C Ollivon, G Alldritt (c)
Replacements: J Marchand, R Wardi, D Aldegheri, R Taofifenua, C Woki, P Boudehent, N Le Garrec, L Bielle-Biarrey
France vs Ireland head to head (h2h) history and results
Ireland snapped a three-game losing streak against the French in last year's Six Nations, coming out on top 32-19 in one of the most breathless and memorable games in the tournament's long history.
Ireland have not won in France since their 2018 Grand Slam under Joe Schmidt.
France wins: 59
Ireland wins: 36
Draws: 7
France vs Ireland prediction
Both of these heavyweights will be smarting after their respective World Cup quarter-final exits and eager to make a huge statement on Six Nations opening night.
Both have their fair share of injuries and have each lost a talismanic leader in the shape of Dupont and Sexton, but they have plenty of other experience and star quality capable of filling those large voids.
Last year's match was unforgettable, let's just hope this edition isn't coming too early in the schedule to follow suit.
Ireland to win, by less than five points.
France vs Ireland match odds
France to win: 8/15
Ireland to win: 17/10
Draw: 18/1
