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In the lead-up to the Six Nations clash at Stade de France, Ireland captain Caelan Doris provided a light-hearted yet telling description of the challenge posed by France’s returning captain, Antoine Dupont. Doris likened the French scrum-half to “one of those little fish you try to touch and they dart away from you,” acknowledging Dupont’s elusive nature on the field. He candidly admitted that Dupont had outmaneuvered him on multiple occasions, recalling a particular moment from 2023 when Dupont cleverly sidestepped him and bested several defenders.
Dupont’s presence is crucial for France as they aim to deliver another strong performance that could undermine Ireland’s ambitions for the title. Despite suffering an injury from a previous collision involving Irish players last year, Dupont’s return to the team reinforces the threat France poses. Ireland’s memory of their last match in Dublin remains vivid, where even Dupont’s early withdrawal couldn’t halt a dominant French display that saw them rack up 34 unanswered points in the second half. While Doris avoided mentioning “revenge,” Ireland faces an uphill battle, compounded by injury and disciplinary setbacks, to produce the kind of resilient performance that might echo their World Cup win over South Africa at the same venue.
Ireland’s preparation has seen changes as they seek to apply immediate pressure on a French side known for its offensive prowess, having scored a record 30 tries in last year’s Six Nations. Head coach Andy Farrell has opted to include Jacob Stockdale on the left wing, marking Stockdale’s first Six Nations appearance since 2021. Once a standout try-scorer in Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning 2018 campaign, Stockdale will face a stern defensive test against France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who surpassed Stockdale’s try record last year. Additionally, Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan, who scored five tries during the last tournament and featured in Ireland’s 2024 win in Marseille, will be relied upon to maintain his strong scoring form, with hopes that replacement flanker Jack Conan can also contribute from the bench.
At fly-half, Sam Prendergast retains his starting role for Ireland despite facing criticism over his defensive performance last year when Paul Boudehent broke through his tackle. Doris expressed confidence in Prendergast’s ongoing improvement, emphasizing the hard work he observes daily and highlighting the fly-half’s high attacking potential. Opposite him, France’s Matthieu Jalibert, a more experienced player in fine form for Bordeaux this season, comes into the match under pressure after being dropped following last year’s defeat to England. Dupont, however, insisted there is unanimous support for Jalibert within the team and coaching staff, expressing optimism about Jalibert’s ability to perform at his best.
Ireland’s forward pack will also face challenges, with key players missing due to injury. Lions props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong are unavailable, alongside Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle, which forces Farrell to rely on Munster’s Jeremy Loughman for his Six Nations debut at loose-head prop. Thomas Clarkson, who gained valuable experience during last summer’s Lions tour, is expected to play a pivotal role. On the French side, well-known faces like Uini Atonio, who retired because of a heart condition, Gregory Alldritt, Gael Fickou, and record try-scorer Damian Penaud are all absent, signaling a shift towards younger players in Galthie’s squad. Dupont remains the lone player with more than 50 caps on the French matchday lineup, placing significant responsibility on his shoulders to lead the team effectively.
With these factors in play, the match promises to test both teams’ resolve and capabilities. Ireland will need to overcome recent setbacks and pressure from a French side energized by the return of key players. If Dupont continues to evade tackles as he has in the past, Ireland’s prospects of securing an early statement win in Paris will become increasingly difficult
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