Andy Farrell’s description of the challenge facing his makeshift Ireland team on this opening night of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations could be enough to send shivers down the spine inside the camp. But the head coach wants his players to lean into and disrupt Antoine Dupont and his defending champions on Thursday night. Replacements: P Mauvaka (Toulouse), R Neti (Toulouse), R Montagne (Clermont), H Auradou (Pau), E Meafou (Toulouse), L Nouchi (Montpellier), B Serin (Toulon), K Gourgues (Toulouse). IRELAND: J Osborne (Leinster); T O’Brien (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Stockdale (Ulster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); J Loughman (Munster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster); J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster); C Prendergast (Connacht), J van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster) - captain. Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), M Milne (Munster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster), N Timoney (Ulster), C Casey (Munster), J Crowley (Munster).

Source: Irish Examiner February 05, 2026 16:37 UTC