GUINNESS SIX NATIONS
France v Ireland, Stade de France, 4.45pm
TV
The match is live on Virgin Media TV
ONLINE
We'll have a live match tracker on rte.ie/sport, the RTÉ News app, as well as updates on RTÉ Rugby Twitter and RTÉ Sport Facebook.
RADIO
The game is live on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
WEATHER
Conditions look perfect for a game of rugby, with clear skies forecast in Saint-Denis, and temperatures of around 7C for kickoff, although it's expected to get colder as the evening progresses.
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
On paper, at least, this is the game of the tournament.
Both sides come into Round 2 off the back of bonus point wins to start, both sides impressed in November wins against New Zealand in November, and most importantly, both sides are playing a brand of rugby that's been thrilling to watch in recent months.
Someone's Grand Slam hopes will have to end tomorrow though, and the form line would suggest Ireland are now up against it.
Home advantage would have made France narrow favourites earlier this week, but yesterday's news that Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has made the French a more confident choice to secure two wins from two, and take a significant step towards a first title in 12 years.
Ireland's recent form in France is reasonable though, two wins (2014 and 2018), two defeats (2016 and 2020) and a draw (2012) in their last five visits.
It's hard to read too much into the past though, because Fabien Galthie's current French crop are worlds apart from the unpredictable teams of previous years.
Since hitting rock bottom in 2017 they have rebuilt themselves and developed youth, with the carrot of a home World Cup in 2023 seeing them steadily build themselves back to being one of the very best teams in the world.
Whatever the result, the game in Paris represents a massive learning opportunity for Andy Farrell's side, in particular Joey Carbery who makes his first Six Nations start.
It's almost two years to the day since Ireland last played an away game in front of a significant crowd, with a full house of 82,000 expected at Stade de France on Saturday evening. Additionally, Ireland are set to face both Scotland and South Africa at the Paris venue in 18 months at the World Cup.
TEAM NEWS
It was expected to be as you were for Ireland after another fluid display against Wales made it nine wins in a row, but injury to Johnny Sexton changed that.
His minor hamstring injury sees Joey Carbery make a first Six Nations start on what is his 29th Test cap, while Jack Carty is in line to end his two-and-a-half year exile from international rugby off the bench.
The other changes to the matchday 23 come on the bench, with Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw drafted in having recovered from injury, as Ryan Baird and James Hume make way for the experienced duo.
Twelve of the Irish starting team began their 29-20 win against New Zealand, while 13 of the French side that defeated the All Blacks with start for Fabien Galthie this weekend.
Hooker Julian Marchand and centre Yoram Moefana are the only two additions from the side that ended a 15-game wait for a win against New Zealand.
Moefana is also one of two changes from last week's win against Italy, replacing the injured Jonathan Danty, while Francois Cros comes in for flanker Dylan Cretin, an indication that France will try go after Ireland at the breakdown.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Jack Carty, Robbie Henshaw.
France: Melvyn Jaminet; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Gabin Villiere; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julian Marchand, Uini Atonio; Cameron Woki, Paul Willemse; Francois Cros, Anthony Jelonch, Gregory Aldritt.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Jean Baptiste Gros, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Thibaut Flament, Dylan Cretin, Maxime Lucu, Thomas Ramos.
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
WHAT THE COACHES SAID
Andy Farrell: "We've got to play our own game, that's the way we're thinking. We've fallen into that trap before against big, physical sides and we've not been composed enough to be able to play our game, so we've learnt some lessons along the way with that. We've got to be brave enough to play the game how we want to play it and not get distracted with thoughts like that. We want to lay down markers everywhere we go."
Fabien Galthie: "Ireland come here on a run of victories. They are the number one team in Europe and third in the world so they are the best opponent that we could face and come here, like us, aiming to win. Our objective is to live the most intense emotion with our supporters, to surpass ourselves. We want to play a match at that level."
Elsewhere, Wales will look to get back on track against a buoyant Scotland in the opening game on Saturday at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, 2.15pm), while Sunday's game sees Italy hoping to spring a surprise on England, kicking off at 3pm at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
FULL LIST OF FIXTURES, RESULTS AND STANDINGS
