Ireland kick off their Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign against France on Saturday afternoon and face an incredibly tough task in taking on Les Bleues, currently ranked third in the world, compared to Ireland's tenth.
It’s the first taste of Six Nations action as boss for new head coach Scott Bemand, who was part of the England set-up for eight years before joining the IRFU after last season’s wooden spoon finish.
Here’s all you need to know about the game
ONLINE
Follow a live blog on RTE.ie/sport and the RTÉ News App followed by match report and reaction from the Ireland camp.
TV
France v Ireland is live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player with coverage under way from 1.45pm, while Italy v England (Sunday 3pm) is also live on RTÉ Player.
RADIO
RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport will have live commentary of the game from 2.15pm.
WEATHER
It looks like being an unpredictable spring day in Le Mans on Saturday, with temperatures of around 11C forecast, with a light breeze and the possibility of some small rain showers.
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While Ireland have a lot of ground to make up on their rivals if they're to get back into the top half of the championship, they do look better placed to be competitive than they were this time last year.
While they will be big underdogs for their opener away to France, they will have the benefit of home advantage for the three most winnable games against Italy, Wales and Scotland.
On paper, their squad for the opening game in Le Mans looks more experienced and more physical than the squad that went through the difficult 2023 campaign.
Bemand has been able to include Sevens stars Béibhinn Parsons and Eve Higgins in his line-up, a luxury Greg McWilliams wasn't afforded last year, while another Sevens international in Aoibheann Reilly also comes in at scrum-half. The Ballinasloe native made her return for Ireland in the WVX, having been out for close to a year due to injury.
In total there are six changes from the side that started the final WXV win against Spain last October.
Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Christy Haney are retained in the front row and are supplemented by Sarah Delaney, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath across the bench.
In the second row, co-captain Sam Monaghan will be badly missed, with the Gloucester-Hartpury lock missing out for concussion reasons. Bemand has drafted in the experienced Hannah O'Connor (above) in her place, with O'Connor partnering her Blackrock College team-mate Dorothy Wall in the engine room.
Edel McMahon captains the team from openside flanker having missed all of last year's championship due to injury, with Aoife Wafer and Brittany Hogan also included.
While Bemand has leaned towards experience in his selections, there's a debut for 18-year-old Katie Corrigan on the right wing, with Parsons on the left, and the experienced Lauren Delany at full-back.
Higgins and Aoife Dalton pair up in the centre after starting all three games together in the WXV.
Reilly gets the nod above Molly Scuffil-McCabe at scrum-half, while out-half Nicole Fowley (below) makes her first Six Nations appearance since 2019.
France: Emilie Boulard; Kelly Arbey, Nassira Konde, Gabrielle Vernier, Marine Menager; Lina Queyroi, Pauline Bourdon Sansus; Annaelle Deshaye, Agathe Sochat, Assia Khalfaoui; Manae Feleu (capt), Madoussou Fall; Charlotte Escudero, Gaelle Hermet, Romane Menager
Replacements: Elisa Riffonneau, Ambre Mwayembe, Clara Joyeux, Kiara Zago, Emeline Gros, Alexandra Chambon, Lina Tuy, Morgane Bourgeois
Ireland: Lauren Delany; Katie Corrigan, Eve Higgins, Aoife Dalton, Béibhinn Parsons; Nicole Fowley, Aoibheann Reilly; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney; Dorothy Wall, Hannah O'Connor; Aoife Wafer, Edel McMahon (capt), Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Sarah Delaney, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Grace Moore, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Dannah O’Brien, Méabh Deely.
OFFICIALS
Referee: Kat Roche (USAR)
Assistant Referees: Maria Latos (GER) and Adele Robert (BEL)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
RECENT SIX NATIONS MEETINGS
2023: Ireland 3-53 France, Virgin Media Park
2022: France 40-5 Ireland, Stade Ernest Wallon
2021: Ireland 15-56 France, Energia Park
2019: Ireland 17-47 France, Energia Park
2018: France 24-0 Ireland, Stade Ernest Wallon
France v Ireland is the opening game of the opening weekend, and it's followed by Wales against Scotland at 4.45pm at Cardiff Arms Park.
On Sunday, favourites England get their campaign under way against Italy in Parma, with kick-off at 3pm Irish time.
