Ireland can do their Six Nations Grand Slam hopes the world of good this weekend with a win, but it’ll be no walk in the park as they take on a buoyant French team coming off the back of a 73-24 win over Italy.
A win for Simon Easterby’s side would all but wrap up their third consecutive Six Nations title, and leave them just one game away from a second Grand Slam in three years, but a win for Les Bleus would also give their own title aspirations a major boost.
This Test, as it has been over the past four years, is being touted as the title decider and you would imagine both sides are going to come out all guns blazing.
Reports have also begun to emerge that France will once again turn to the 7-1 split on the bench, and big hitters Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud are also back in the mix for selection.
But who will Easterby turn to? Well, with that thought in mind, here is our predicted Ireland team to take on France in the Six Nations this weekend.
15 Hugo Keenan
After missing the Wales Test, you’d think Hugo Keenan will come straight back into the Irish starting XV this time around. The Leinsterman has long been a key cog in the Ireland attack, with his ability to charge through broken field such a potent weapon in their arsenal, but crucially he has been hitting his best form once again at Test level.
14 Mack Hansen
Poacher-extreme Mack Hansen could really boost his Lions chances with a strong outing against France. The Connacht man, who has just signed a new IRFU contract, offers something different to most other wingers in the Six Nations and often acts as a key link throughout their backline, which in turn allows his side to play in different holes. He is also a supreme finisher, which is another huge tick in his box.
13 Robbie Henshaw
Garry Ringrose’s suspension (at least for this week anyway…) leaves the 13 shirt open for the upcoming France Test, but Robbie Henshaw should be just the ticket. The ever-classy Leinster back offers something different to Ringrose, but he is just as effective with his physicality and punch solidifying their midfield channel.
12 Bundee Aki
Speaking of Garry Ringrose’s red card, the man who replaced him last time out should come straight back into the starting XV. The powerful Connacht man’s brand of smash-and-bash is arguably the most important weapon in Ireland’s attack, as it gets them consistently in-behind the opposition’s defence and through the gainline. Also, this is yet another great chance to cement his spot in the Lions Test side, given the calibre of opposition.
11 James Lowe
You’d think James Lowe will stay in the starting XV for another week, given he has been an ever-present since his Test debut. He too has become a really important part of this Ireland side in recent years, particularly with his kicking game, but with Damian Penaud likely to be back in the France side he will need to step his game up another level this weekend.
10 Sam Prendergast
Fly-half has become a big talking point for Ireland this Six Nations, but Sam Prendergast should be the man in the jersey again this weekend. The 22-year-old has stepped up to the plate since being handed the mantle this Six Nations, growing with each Test, but this is certainly his biggest challenge to date. If he passes it, it could cement his place for the foreseeable future, but if he fails it could allow Jack Crowley to return to the team.
9 Jamison Gibson-Park
There doesn’t even need to be an explanation as to why Jamison Gibson-Park will start against France. He just will.
8 Caelan Doris
Ireland are confident skipper Caelan Doris could return against France and if he is up and running then he will certainly be back in the starting XV. He has been so important to his side’s successes in the past year, both in terms of his leadership and actions on the pitch, and will need to hit the ground running upon his return to the side.
7 Josh van der Flier
Doris’ partner-in-crime Josh van der Flier should once again start in the seven jumper. He just gets through so much work on both sides of the ball and always seems to come up with some crucial interventions at exactly the right time to bring momentum back to his side.
6 Tadhg Beirne
In-form Munsterman Tadhg Beirne should slot in at six this weekend and will really complement the rest of the back-five. Like Van der Flier, he just runs his blood to water with his work around the park, but crucially he also adds some extra beef to their pack to cope against the behemoth French pack.
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5 James Ryan
With Beirne moving across to the back-row, James Ryan should re-connect with his clubmate McCarthy in the starting XV. Ryan is another proper workhorse in this Irish pack, but around that he also brings heaps of experience to the fray and this could prove crucial in a Test like this.
4 Joe McCarthy
Leinster lock Joe McCarthy announced himself on the Test stage with a monumental shift against France last year and he will need to be at that level again this year if his side want to secure a vital win. France’s locks are a real handful to manage, given their size, but McCarthy is a serious defensive enforcer and could help neutralise their threat. He also gets stuck into the carrying load in the tight too.
3 Finlay Bealham
Tadhg Furlong is closing in on a return from injury, but Finlay Bealham should come back into the starting XV this weekend. He made a decent impact off the bench against Wales and has also made a decent impression in his earlier starts against England and Scotland. France’s scrum will look to put him under the pump though.
2 Dan Sheehan
Whilst he might not be captain this weekend, Dan Sheehan will surely retain his place in the starting XV. Sheehan has been the blueprint for the modern-day hooker with his brilliant performances both for Leinster and Ireland, but again with the physicality France bring to the fray, he will need a big game.
1 Andrew Porter
Rounding off the starting XV, once again, is Andrew Porter, who will need to really step his scrummaging up this weekend. Porter came under the pump against Wales, conceding several penalties as a result, but with the strength of the France pack and the momentum they can generate from their scru,m he cannot afford a repeat of this again.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Jack Conan, 22 Conor Murray, 23 Jack Crowley
Whilst it might not be the 7-1 France are set to name this weekend, Ireland will likely go for a 6-2 split this weekend. Retiring heroes Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray should all get their Aviva farewell from the bench, Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong are slight injury concerns but Ireland are awaiting late fitness updates on the pair so it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see them named in the 23. Ryan Baird and Jack Conan should also feature on the bench, as will Jack Crowley.
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