Get ready for a blockbuster.
The meeting of the world's top two sides, for the first time in the Guinness Six Nations, is set to play out as a battle royale in Dublin 4 this afternoon (live on RTÉ2, RTÉ player and RTÉ Radio 1).
The prize for the winners will be a heavy favourites tag to go on and win the championship, with Grand Slam talk not far behind.
After two landmark away wins in New Zealand and autumn success against South Africa and Australia, Andy Farrell knows that a victory over this star-studded and highly ambitious team, would make another statement in a World Cup year. The nations are also on the same side of the draw.
Ireland have beaten France nine times in Six Nations history and considering they’ve drawn twice and lost 12 in their 23 meetings since 2000, it’s not a poor return.
But a quick look at the years that Ireland scored their victories also tells a tale.
Over the nine wins, none came in a year in which France won the tournament and in only one year (2000) when they finished second.
There were three seasons when Irish eyes were smiling in which France finished third in the table, while the rest occurred in seasons where Les Bleus finished fourth or fifth.
Only once, in 2003, did France come into the tournament as defending champions.
That’s to say that, for the most part, Ireland wins came against French side not operating at the top of their game.
Meanwhile, in the five seasons prior to 2022 that France won the title, they handed out handsome defeats to the Irish with the aggregate tale of the tape reading 175-80.
While the current World Rugby rankings have Ireland ahead on points, most observers, citing evidence from last season’s Grand Slam campaign, which included a 30-24 win over Ireland, claim that France are the de facto top dogs.
That means that an Irish win against such esteemed opponents as the 2023 France team, who have won their last 14 games in a row, would top any previous achievement.
"I think they’re a fantastic team," gushed Farrell when asked about the significance of beating France, the only Tier 1 team that the head coach has not tasted victory over since taking over in 2019.
"I was speaking to Fabien Galthie at the launch and I congratulated him because it was just an unbelievable year for him.
IRELAND v FRANCE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
"Going unbeaten and playing the way that they played. I think it speaks volumes for where they're at at this moment in time.
"I think their coaching staff, the backroom staff, the players alike have got something really going.
"French rugby in general is buzzing at this moment in time. I think we've all seen that.
"But, what's very impressive about them is the temperament. They've got a plan A, B, C and D as well.
"Even when things have not been going their way, they've always found a way to win; certainly over the last 12 months.
"In that regard, any type of victory against a side like that is going to be a big performance."
Ireland make just one injury-enforced change to the side that routed Wales 34-10 last weekend, with Rob Herring coming in for Dan Sheehan at hooker, who was part of a lineout unit that recorded a 100% success rate.
But the Leinster man’s absence means that two front-row regulars, along with Tadhg Furlong, are missing and at this level it’s certainly a significant challenge to be met.
Finlay Bealham will face a hard task trying to break even with Cyril Baille.
"We trust in the guys who have got behind [Tadhg] to come in and do a good job," captain Johnny Sexton said of Furlong’s understudies. Tom O’Toole is on the bench.
As it stands, the Irish pack are giving away an average of almost eight kilos per man to their counterparts, who caused havoc last season in the Stade de France, their sheer power paving the way for the 10 points that killed off the game.
Andrew Porter, meanwhile, alongside Dave Kilcoyne (off the bench) and lock James Ryan are set to win their 50th caps.
While Peter O’Mahony had a relatively quiet outing in Cardiff, these clashes tend to bring the most out of the Munster skipper and alongside World Rugby player of the year Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris, the back row tussle against the dynamic trio of Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon and Gregory Alldritt is also tantalising.
Conor Murray is "good to go" after it emerged his father had been involved in a road accident and is in hospital, and alongside Johnny Sexton will need to use all of their 211 caps worth of experience to counter the mercurial play of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, both capable of producing something from nothing.
A 15-point haul for Sexton, who missed the last two games against France, would see him overtake Ronan O’Gara (557) as Ireland top Six Nations scorer.
Ireland, who have won 21 of their last 22 home games, are also without Robbie Henshaw and it will be replacement Stuart McCloskey’s first time to face the French, where he and Garry Ringrose will do midfield battle with Yoram Moefana and Gael Fickou.
Full-back Hugo Keenan was man of the match last week and will hardly have played a better 80 minutes in green but wingers Mack Hansen and James Lowe will feel they can up their games against the threats posed by Ethan Dumortier and Damian Penaud.
France boss Galthie, whose side struggled to a 29-24 win over Italy last Sunday, has opted for a 6:2 split on the bench, with Matthieu Jalibert in reserve and ready to test the Irish defence at some stage in the second half.
"When you watch Ireland play, you are watching Leinster," said Galthie as he fired back compliments towards the Irish camp this week ahead of a bid to win back-to-back in Dublin for the first time since 2007.
"There is this attacking style of rugby which is recognised as being remarkable in the rugby world.
"And they have other qualities: wonderful players, talented and above all a deep well of talent that they refresh regularly."
The bookmakers have Ireland, also missing Jamison Gibson-Park and Cian Healy, as four-point favourites and this game is almost too close to call.
The visitors will have plenty of room for improvement from last weekend but Ireland will also have picked out areas of weakness in France's game, especially around tackle and breakdown discipline (they conceded 18 penalties in total).
As in Paris last year, the crowd can have a bearing in this. Farrell has urged the fans to stay involved and home advantage may just swing this.
Verdict: Ireland
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Rob Herring, Finlay Bealham; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Bundee Aki.
France: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Ethan Dumortier; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio; Thibaud Flament, Paul Willemse; Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Gaetan Barlot, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifenua, Francois Cros, Sekou Macalou, Baptiste Couilloud, Matthieu Jalibert.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
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