A huge year for Irish women's rugby begins this weekend as the countdown starts to the Rugby World Cup in England in August.
Ireland exceeded all expectations in a brilliant 2024, with a top-half finish in the Guinness Women's Six Nations followed up by a famous win against New Zealand's Black Ferns in September, as Scott Bemand's side finished second at the WXV in Vancouver.
With just five months to go until the World Cup Pool C opener against Japan in Northampton, Ireland host France in Belfast this Saturday in their opening game of the 2025 Six Nations championship.
Ireland's recent form against France hasn't been pretty, with their last win over Les Bleues coming in 2017.
However, last year's 38-17 defeat in Le Mans did suggest the gap between the sides was closing, while the pairs contrasting WXV form in September and October would suggest Ireland could run the visitors close in Belfast on Saturday.
Here's all you need to know about the game.
ONLINE
Follow a live blog of Ireland v France on RTE.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app followed by report and reaction from Belfast.
RADIO
Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra from 1pm, with the game continuing on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport from 2pm.
TV
Ireland v France is live on Virgin Media One on Saturday afternoon at 1pm, while Scotland v Wales (4.45pm) will be shown on RTÉ Player.
England v Italy is live on Virgin Media Two, with kick-off at 3pm. Highlights of all of the weekend's games are on Against the Head, Monday, 8pm.
WEATHER
Belfast is set for rain showers and a gentle breeze on Saturday afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to be around 13C.
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Ireland's Six Nations campaign begins at Kingspan Stadium, just as the last one ended.
The Belfast ground has become a fruitful venue for this side, who also recorded an impressive win against Australia at this stadium in September, as a warm-up from the WXV.
This will be the fourth time Ireland's women's team have played at Ravenhill in recent years, winning the previous three, although this will be by some distance their biggest test.
France have racked up 50 points on each of their last two visits to Ireland, and have won 19 of the previous 22 meetings between the teams in this competition.
The form book would suggest a much close game in 2025 though.
Ireland performed above expectations in their defeat to the French last year, and have improved considerably since then, as their wins against Australia, New Zealand and USA in the autumn would attest to.
France, meanwhile, are a side who are out to prove their critics wrong after a disappointing WXV campaign. Having finished second in the Six Nations behind England last year, Gaalle Mignot and David Ortiz's side picked up just one win from three in the WXV.
Bemand's side shows four changes from their final WXV game, with Amee-Leigh Costigan in as captain, with Edel McMahon and Enya Breen on the bench.
There's a settled look to the Irish squad, with Stacey Flood, Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins also across thr three-quarters and backfield, while Emily Lane and Dannah O'Brien team up in the half-backs.
There's real continuity in the pack, with an unchanged front and back row; Linda Djougang and Niamh O'Dowd pack down either side of hooker Neve Jones, while the back row combination of Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan and Erin King looks like being the first choice trio for the foreseeable future.
The visitors have been dealt a blow, with star number 8 Romane Menager unavailable due to injury, as is powerful prop Assia Khalfaoui.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus provides a huge threat at scrum-half, while second row Madoussou Fall was Player of the Match when these sides met 12 months ago.
Fall and Bourdon Sansus are among eight of this week's starting team who also did so in Le Mans last year, while Ireland also have seven alterations from that championship opener last year.
TEAMS
Ireland: Stacey Flood; Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan (capt); Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Dorothy Wall; Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Aoife Wafer.
Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney, Siobhán McCarthy, Christy Haney, Grace Moore, Fiona Tuite, Edel McMahon, Aoibheann Reilly, Enya Breen.
France: Morgane Bourgeois; Melissande Llorens, Nassira Konde, Gabrielle Vernier, Marine Menager (co-capt); Carla Arbez, Pauline Bourdon Sansus; Yllana Brosseau, Agathe Sochat, Rose Bernadou; Manae Feleu (co-capt), Madoussou Fall-Raclot; Charlotte Escudero, Stephanie Okemba, Teani Feleu
Replacements: Manon Bigot, Ambre Mwayembe, Clara Joyeux, Axelle Berthoumieu, Lea Champon, Alexandra Chambon, Lina Queyroi, Emilie Boulard
OFFICIALS
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referee 1: Holly Wood (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Amelia Luciano (USAR)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
FPRO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
RECENT SIX NATIONS MEETINGS
2024: France 38-17 Ireland, Stade Marie-Marvingt, Le Mans
2023: Ireland 3-53 France, Virgin Media Park
2022: France 40-5 Ireland, Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse
2021: Ireland 15-56 France, Energia Park
2019: Ireland 17-47 France, Energia Park
