France absorbed early setbacks including the loss of captain Antoine Dupont through injury to beat defending champions Ireland 42-27 at the Aviva Stadium and move into pole position for the Six Nations title.
Dupont sustained a knee injury after half an hour but Les Bleus overturned a 13-8 deficit with brutal force to top the table with 16 points, two ahead of Ireland, with third-placed England on 10 ahead of their home match against Italy on Sunday. France's flying winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored two tries while Paul Boudehent, Oscar Jegou and Damian Penaud, who equalled Serge Blanco's French record of 38 international tries, added one each. Thomas Ramos kicked the rest of the points for a resounding victory that ended the hosts' Grand Slam hopes.
Ill-disciplined Ireland, who lost James Lowe to a warm-up injury and picked up two yellow cards, scored three tries through Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy and Jack Conan, the rest of their points coming from the boot of Sam Prendergast.
Ireland vs France latest news
- TRY! Stunning second for Bielle-Biarrey
- TRY! Boudehent edges France back in front
- TRY! Sheehan gives Ireland lead after break
- Dupont limps off injured in huge France blow
- TRY! Bielle-Biarrey goes over out wide
French run riot!
16:22 , Matt VerriFrance were so clinical all afternoon.
As soon as Ireland made an error, Les Blues were ready to pounce.
Damian Penaud seals it for France IN STYLE ✈️#GuinnessM6N | #IREvFRa pic.twitter.com/xXNQxyBw5m
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 8, 2025
FT: Ireland 27-42 France
16:12 , Matt VerriAnd breathe!
Relentless action in the second-half. Ireland finish strongly but they were long since beaten.
A sensational afternoon for France, who are in pole position to now win the Six Nations. Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes are over.
TRY! Ireland 25-42 France | Jack Conan 80'
16:11 , Matt VerriAnd there is one final try! Conan on his 50th appearance.
Penalty taken quickly, Crowley has Conan on his outside and the forward can stroll over.
France have basically stopped playing in the last five minutes.
Ireland 20-42 France
16:10 , Matt Verri79 mins: Chaotic feel to this match, no structure at all.
Wonderful kick from Keenan - 50:22. Ireland sensing the chance for one more try to finish this match.
TRY! Ireland 20-42 France | Cian Healy 78'
16:08 , Matt VerriBielle-Biarrey named player of the match, for those two tries.
Ireland back in the French 22... and they have something to cheer!
Healy bursts through a couple of tackles and dives over. Nice moment for him on his final Dublin appearance.
TRY! Ireland 13-42 France | Damian Penaud 75'
16:05 , Matt VerriInterception try!
Sums up Ireland’s afternoon. Ramos reads it perfectly on his own 5m line and he then charges away.
Penaud is the man up with him and nobody in the world is catching him. Dives over under the posts.
Ireland 13-35 France
16:04 , Matt Verri74 mins: Real pace to Ireland’s play now, they want to end this match on the front.
Yet another penalty conceded by France, yellow card is inevitable. Cros the man sent to the bin.
Ireland 13-35 France
16:02 , Matt Verri72 mins: Murray held up over the line, France not giving Ireland a sniff.
Prendergast flicks a kick through, Herring chasing after it but Moefana is alert to mop up the danger.
Penalty advantage, though. Another Irish lineout.
Ireland 13-35 France
16:00 , Matt Verri70 mins: Referee decides it is deliberate, but just a penalty. More boost from the home fans.
Prendergast knocks it into touch, 5m lineout coming up.
Ireland 13-35 France
15:59 , Matt Verri70 mins: Ireland advantage, so Prendergast goes for a cute kick over the top.
Ramos claims it and advantage is called over... not quite what the hosts were looking for.
TMO review for a possible deliberate knock-on from Boudehent.
Ireland 13-35 France
15:57 , Matt Verri69 mins: Ireland penalty, they have no choice but to kick for touch. They need tries. A lot of them. Now.
Healy and Murray are both on, huge ovation as they make their final appearances for Ireland in Dublin.
PENALTY! Ireland 13-35 France | Thomas Ramos 68'
15:55 , Matt VerriFrance continue to keep the scoreboard ticking along.
Ramos makes no mistake with the penalty and this is turning into a real hammering. The lead now 22 points.
Ireland 13-32 France
15:54 , Matt Verri66 mins: Crossfield kick takes a very awkward bounce... catches both Osborne and Penaud out.
But Osborne then slices a kick out on the full, France lineout in the Irish half.
Les Blues have the penalty now, Clarkson not rolling away.
Ireland 13-32 France
15:52 , Matt Verri64 mins: Ireland can’t get any momentum going.
Jegou with the tackle on Prendergast and the fly-half spills the ball forward.
It’s all gone wrong for Ireland in the last 20 minutes.
Ireland 13-32 France
15:48 , Matt Verri61 mins: Bonus point secured and Ramos adds the extra couple of points.
This has been sensational from France. They are 20 minutes away from blowing this Six Nations title race wide open... and leaving themselves in pole position.
TRY! Ireland 13-30 France | Oscar Jegou 59'
15:47 , Matt VerriIreland are back up to 15 but it’s still France piling on the pressure.
Forwards are doing the hard yards, inching closer and closer to the tryline.
And Jegou stretches for the line, touches it down... try!
Ireland 13-25 France
15:44 , Matt Verri57 mins: France have numbers out wide, but Jegou goes for a grubber kick instead. Very much the act of a man not used to being there.
Crowley is on for Ireland, replacing Aki.
PENALTY! Ireland 13-25 France | Thomas Ramos 55'
15:42 , Matt VerriIt’s been frantic in the last five minutes or so but France decide to calm things down. They are going for the three points.
Ramos slots the kick over and France have a 12-point lead in Dublin.
Ireland 13-22 France
15:41 , Matt Verri53 mins: French fans making all the noise in Dublin.
Still three minutes left for Ireland to play with 14 and France are threatening to run riot. Ramos skips into space in the Irish 22, again France are only five metres out.
Penalty advantage too, and it comes back for that as the ball goes loose.
TRY! Ireland 13-22 France | Louis Bielle-Biarrey 50'
15:38 , Matt VerriSTUNNING!
Wow. France turn it over and they suddenly burst into life.
Penaud flings it out to Bielle-Biarrey and he bursts away down the wing. He kicks it into space, nobody can stick with him... and Bielle-Biarrey gets there to touch it down!
Lucu tries to get there first, but Bielle-Biarrey dives in front of his team-mate. Ramos adds the extras.
Ireland 13-15 France
15:37 , Matt Verri49 mins: Conan on for his 50th cap, as O’Mahony walks off the pitch in Dublin for the final time.
Confirmation, meanwhile, that Nash’s yellow card will not be upgraded to a red.
France only have one back on the bench and he’s already on, so Jegou is having to fill in at centre with Barassi being assessed after the head contact.
French also change their entire front row.
Ireland 13-15 France
15:34 , Matt Verri47 mins: Try given - huge boos around the Aviva Stadium!
Home fans, unsurprisingly, think O'Mahony and Ireland should have been awarded a penalty. Referee sees nothing wrong.
Simplest of conversions for Ramos, France lead again.
Yellow card - Calvin Nash 47'
15:32Nash sent to the sin bin for ten minutes, contact with the head of Barassi as he went in too high for the tackle.
And now we’ll have a check for the try...
TRY! Ireland 13-13 France | Paul Boudehent 47'
15:31 , Matt VerriDoris not supporting his body weight and it’s an advantage for France, as they move into the Irish 22.
Lucu bursts into space, he’s a couple of metres out.
Boudehent looks to have put it down right on the line... try given!
There will be a TMO check for an earlier tackle.
Ireland 13-8 France
15:27 , Matt VerriAbout as hard a kick as Prendergast could have... but he adds the extra two points!
Perfect start to the half from Ireland.
TRY! Ireland 11-8 France | Dan Sheehan 43'
15:26 , Matt VerriQuick start to the half from Ireland.
Gros penalised in his own 22 for offside. Prendergast punts it into the corner.
Here comes the maul, edging closer... Sheehan dives over out wide!
Back underway!
15:23 , Matt VerriUp and running in the second-half!
Only try of the match...
15:12 , Matt VerriLouis Bielle-Biarrey left with a pretty simple finish after that pass from Antoine Dupont.
France haven’t spent much time in the Irish 22, but they made the most of this visit.
This vision from Antoine Dupont 🤤
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 8, 2025
The maestro puts it on a plate for Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who strolls over!#GuinnessM6N | #IREvFRA pic.twitter.com/xVt6ENsTAp
HT: Ireland 6-8 France
15:09 , Matt VerriBrilliant from Prendergast!
Nails that kick and he gets Ireland to within two points at half-time.
It’s right in the balance!
Ireland 3-8 France
15:07 , Matt Verri40 mins: Penalty advantage for Ireland, so it’s a free play with the clock red. Flament offside.
It’s right on the halfway line - is it within range for Prendergast?
He’s going to have a go.
Ireland 3-8 France
15:06 , Matt Verri40 mins: Ramos’ kick gets France up into the Irish half.
Will the hosts try and play it from here, or just take half-time?
Ireland 3-8 France
15:05 , Matt Verri38 mins: Osborne boots the ball deep into the French 22, nobody back with Ramos out of position.
Penaud without a care in the world as he strolls back, allows Osborne to close in and the Frenchman has nowhere to go. Shambles from Penaud.
French scrum just over 5m from their own tryline.
PENALTY! Ireland 3-8 France | Thomas Ramos 36'
15:02 , Matt VerriImmediate response from France, gifted the three points from the restart.
That will be hugely frustrating for Ireland.
Ireland 3-5 France
15:02 , Matt Verri36 mins: But straight from the restart, Ireland are penalised for not getting out of Penaud’s way.
Porter the one not allowing the access. Ramos poins to the posts.
PENALTY! Ireland 3-5 France | Sam Prendergast 35'
15:01 , Matt VerriTackle off the ball and Ireland have the penalty. Chance for them to get on the board.
Should be simple enough for Prendergast, just outside the 22.
And he slots it through the posts.
Ireland 0-5 France
14:58 , Matt Verri32 mins: Atonio the latest French player to go down and require treatment.
Referee having a word with Doris. Basically telling him to stay away when he’s speaking to the TMO.
Alldritt now strolls over for a chat - he’s complaining about the challenge that saw Dupont forced off.
Ireland 0-5 France
14:55 , Matt Verri30 mins: Bielle-Biarrey unhappy with the referee.
He kicks it forward and is then absolutely wiped out by O'Mahony, who just about did enough to convince the referee he was trying to block the kick.
Gets away with it. And Ireland are now back to 15, McCarthy has returned.
Ireland 0-5 France
14:53 , Matt Verri29 mins: Well this is pretty much the last thing France want to see.
Dupont is getting his right knee iced, the scrum-half isn’t moving well at all.
Takes a couple of players to help him off the pitch, Lucu is on to replace him. He was the only back named on the bench.
Ireland 0-5 France
14:51 , Matt Verri28 mins: Dupont now with a wonderful reverse pass, France going through their party tricks.
He then fires a pass out wide... Penaud tries to volley it forward. Even he can’t pull that off.
Ireland very nearly make a mess of the lineout, Sheehan and Gibson-Park not on the same wavelength. Osborne’s kick gets them up the pitch.
Ireland 0-5 France
14:49 , Matt Verri25 mins: Barassi with a lovely step and offload, before Moefana produces a brilliant kick along the touchline.
Ireland with the lineout deep in their own 22. Referee telling him they have to hurry it up - wouldn’t say they are particularly listening.
Ireland 0-5 France
14:47 , Matt Verri24 mins: Ramos can’t add the extras with a touch kick out wide.
Bielle-Biarrey with an absurdly confident kick crossfield near enough on his own tryline, but it pays off.
France not lacking in confidence, as ever....
TRY! Ireland 0-5 France | Louis Bielle-Biarrey 21'
14:44 , Matt VerriRuthless!
First chance for France, first try.
Driving maul marches towards the line, Dupont decides to get the ball out and flings it out to Bielle-Biarrey, who can walk over out wide.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:43 , Matt Verri20 mins: It is indeed a yellow card for McCarthy!
Ireland dominant in the opening 20 minutes, but they have nothing to show for it and are now down to 14 men.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:42 , Matt Verri20 mins: Ramos finds Bielle-Biarrey on his outside, the French winger knocks a kick forward... Ireland claim it.
But it’s back for a penalty, Ramos had been pulled back off the ball by McCarthy. Not very subtle either.
Going to be a check for a possible yellow card.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:39 , Matt Verri18 mins: First change for France to get on the attack in the Irish half. It’s all very frantic, no real structure.
Dupont goes for a very ambitious offload, ball bobbles loose and Ireland can turn it over.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:37 , Matt Verri16 mins: France have spent the entirety of this match either defending deep in their own territory or just smashing the ball up the pitch. Have barely touched the ball.
That helps, though. Cros gets over the ball and wins the penalty.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:35 , Matt VerriKeenan’s pass wasn’t a great one, but it got a flick off Dupont forward.
And then Penaud might well have fumbled it forward too. This try will be chalked off.
Which it is... massive roar around the Aviva Stadium!
TRY! Ireland 0-5 France | Antoine Dupont 14'
14:34 , Matt VerriIreland going through the phases again, deep in the French 22. Up to five metres out.
Huge tackle from Bielle-Biarrey slows the momentum briefly.
And now it’s broken free... Penaud is charging away!
He has Dupont up with him, finds his captain and the scrum-half strolls over!
Checking for a knock-on...
Ireland 0-0 France
14:31 , Matt Verri12 mins: Keenan beats two defenders but then fumbles the ball forward.
Ireland had the advantage, so back for that. Already been a fair few penalties conceded by France.
This time they decide to go for touch again, Prendergast gets his side up into the French 22.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:3011 mins: Irish penalty and this time they point to the posts. Want to make sure their dominance has some reward.
Central for Prendergast... off the post! And Penaud reacts quickest to clear.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:28 , Matt Verri8 mins: France have barely had a second to breathe, Ireland throwing everything at them early on.
But it’s more good work at the breakdown and they win the penalty. Ntamack gets France up into the Irish half for the first time near enough.
France have made 38 tackles so far. Ireland... none.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:26 , Matt Verri7 mins: Sheehan with the tap and go, just about stopped short.
Doris then bundles his way over the line, but he’s held up. Great defence from France.
Ntamack can lump the ball up the pitch to ease some of this early pressure.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:25 , Matt Verri6 mins: Dupont offside, Prendergast opts to kick to touch. Lineout just over 5m out.
Here comes the shove, Sheehan at the back of the maul and he makes a lunge for the line... couple of metres short. Irish advantage.
And it will come back for that, as the ball is fumbled.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:24 , Matt Verri4 mins: First scrum of the match - both packs will be keen to lay down an early marker.
Early shove from France, free-kick for Ireland. Hosts have made a good start to this match, immediately on the front foot.
Ireland 0-0 France
14:21 , Matt Verri2 mins: Penaud has to scramble back into his own 22, flings it to Ramos and the clearing kick is a decent one.
Ireland then lose it and Mauvaka is suddenly breaking free into space, but the referee says it was a forward pass.
Aki has gone down for Ireland - they could really do without another injury blow. Looks to be a boot to the lip, so he should be fine to continue.
KICK-OFF!
14:19 , Matt VerriWe’re up and running in Dublin!
Cian Healy looking fairly emotional during that. Peter O’Mahony going with the eyes closed approach to keep that hidden.
Kick-off moments away!
Right, we’ve made it.
Time for the anthems.
Michael D. Higgins is edging his way down the line of players. Antoine Dupont has been introducing his team-mates for about five minutes.
The president has finally made it to the Irish players. Problem is he has even more to say to them. And the mascots.
Settle in.
Here we go!
14:06 , Matt VerriPeter O'Mahony leads Ireland out in what is his final appearance for his country on home soil. Huge roar from the crowd.
Applause ahead of kick-off in memory of Dr Bill Mulcahy, before the Irish president then walks out for the usual meet-and-greet.
Confirmed: Lowe ruled out
14:03 , Matt VerriJames Lowe will not play any part this afternoon.
Confirmation from the IRFU that Lowe suffered a back spasm in the warm-up and will be replaced by Calvin Nash.
Lowe has been so impressive in the opening three rounds of fixtures - could be a significant moment.
Lowe update
13:57 , Matt VerriIreland’s warm-up has continued without James Lowe, looks increasingly likely that he will miss out.
Calvin Nash has come in on the right wing, with Jamie Osborne shifting to the left.
Big concern for Ireland
13:53 , Matt VerriWell this would be a huge blow for the hosts.
James Lowe has limped down the tunnel after picking up what appears to be an injury in the warm-up.
No word yet on whether he will be fit to start.
Pre-match coin toss...
13:42 , Matt VerriSounds like Antoine Dupont has opted for France to kick things off after winning the coin toss.
Ireland will play right to left... you can all rest easy now. Sure that’s the information you’ve been waiting for.
☘️🤝🇫🇷 Le #XVdeFrance donnera le coup d'envoi de ce 105e match de l'histoire entre nos deux pays !
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 8, 2025
‼️ Rendez-vous à 15h15 !#XVdeFrance #IRLFRA #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/2KCdKAjor9
Head-to-head record
13:31Ireland 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 wins: 37
France wins: 59
Draws: 7
How it stands...
13:22 , Matt VerriVictory for Ireland and they will have one hand on the trophy, with only Italy standing between them and the Grand Slam.
A French win, though, and it really will be all to play for on the final weekend.
Could turn into a three-way title battle between Ireland, France and England.
A reminder of how the Guinness Men's Six Nations table looks going into a MASSIVE weekend of action! 🔥
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 8, 2025
On Saturday, Ireland face France and Scotland hosts Wales! Sunday sees England take on Italy!#GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/aZ1WSgt2dz
In the building!
13:14 , Matt VerriThe French have arrived at the Aviva Stadium!
😍💙 𝑳𝑬𝑺 𝑩𝑳𝑬𝑼𝑺 𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑻 𝑳𝑨̀ !
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 8, 2025
ALLEZ ! 💪#IRLFRA #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV | 🚍 @RATPgroup pic.twitter.com/F9v9cool2J
Osborne backed to shine at wing
13:04 , Matt VerriIreland coach Simon Easterby has backed Jamie Osborne to deliver this afternoon.
The 23-year-old impressed at full-back in the win over Wales last time out but will start on the wing in Dublin today, filling in for the injured Mack Hansen.
"He's done pretty well so far across the short international career he's had," said Easterby of Osborne.
"He's a fabulous footballer, first and foremost. He's got a physical presence and he's also got a really smart rugby brain. He understands the game and the feel of the game."
France full of confidence...
12:52 , Matt VerriDecent day out for France a fortnight ago.
Just the 11 tries in a 74-23 win over Italy, and that scoreline didn’t flatter them.
Today is obviously a huge step up, but there should be no shortage of confidence in the French camp.
End of an Irish era
12:40 , Matt VerriIt is a final international appearance in Dublin for Peter O'Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray this afternoon.
The trio have announced that they will retire from international rugby at the end of the Six Nations, following next week’s clash in Rome against Italy.
Former captain O'Mahony and Ireland’s most-capped player Healy will retire from rugby at the end of the season, while Murray will "pursue a playing opportunity abroad" this summer.
"Hi everyone, we've got some news to share: this will be our last Six Nations in green," the trio said in a video posted on Ireland's X account.
"It's been an unbelievable journey... but the job isn't done and we've a big couple of weeks ahead.
"The three of us have done some very special things together but we're not done yet.
"Your support over the years has been incredible and has never gone unnoticed, so thank you and we hope to see you in the Aviva [Stadium] one last time.”
Stage is set!
12:32 , Matt VerriSun is shining in Dublin this afternoon...
Arrived for MD at Aviva Stadium! 🙌#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/r4QLDeQQZz
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 8, 2025
Standard Sport prediction
12:24 , Matt VerriThe 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.
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.
Confirmed lineups
12:16 , Matt VerriIreland 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
France team news
12:07 , Matt VerriFrance 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 team news
12:00Ireland 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.
How to watch Ireland vs France
11:53 , Matt VerriTV channel: Ireland vs France is being broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 1:25pm GMT.
Live stream: ITVX will also be providing a free live stream service online, with only a registration needed.
Good morning!
11:46 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Ireland vs France!
It’s the biggest match of the Six Nations so far and one that could effectively seal the title.
Victory here and only Italy will stand between Ireland and the Grand Slam... and a third consecutive Six Nations triumph.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 2:15pm GMT from the Aviva Stadium!
