The Guinness Six Nations kicks off under the Friday night lights as France host Ireland in Marseille.
It's being billed as the World Cup final that never was and also the finale of the opening weekend.
The form guide would suggest the latter claim has merit but there’s a long way to go until Round 5’s Super Saturday on 16 March.
Here’s all you need to know.
RADIO
Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 with Michael Corcoran and Donal Lenihan.
ONLINE
Follow a live blog on RTE.ie/sport and the RTÉ News App followed by report, reaction and player ratings.
TV
The match is live on Virgin Media TV.
WEATHER
It's expected to be a perfect evening for rugby in the south of France. Afternoon temperatures of 17C are set to drop down to around 9C at kick-off, with no rain forecast and very little wind.
Three and a half months on from World Cup heartbreak – Ireland at the hands of New Zealand and France at the hands of champions South Africa – the northern hemisphere’s top contenders open up the Six Nations.
Over the last decade, Les Bleus and Ireland have built up quite the rivalry. Ten years ago, Ireland’s 22-20 win in Stade de France was enough for Joe Schmidt’s side to claim the title in Brian O’Driscoll’s last international.
And there’s been only one championship match in Paris since then that the hosts have won by more than a score. These games are evenly matched.
Two years ago, Antoine Dupont and Mack Hansen lit up the Parisian skies as France edged a classic encounter 30-24 on their way to a Grand Slam.
Ireland, of course, are the defending Grand Slam champions, finishing above Fabien Galthie’s side last season.
There’s a new setting with the game being held in Marseille as the Stade de France gets ready for the Olympic Games and the familiar faces of Johnny Sexton (retirement) and Dupont (Sevens) will be missing.
But you can still expect fireworks.
Ireland's overall record away to France in the Six Nations is poor, winning on just three occasions from 12 attempts (2000, 2014, 2018).
France's loss to South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final was just their first defeat on home soil in 18 games going back to the 2021 reverse to Scotland.
It was in Marseille that France recorded their biggest ever Test victory during the RWC, a 96-0 pasting of Namibia.
On the team front, Andy Farrell hands first Six Nations caps to lock Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash, while Jack Crowley takes over at out-half after Johnny Sexton's retirement. Garry Ringrose misses out through injury.
Galthie has named a strong French outfit with Maxime Lucu coming in for Dupont and new captain Gregory Alldritt in the back row.
TEAMS
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony (capt), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciarán Frawley.
France: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Yoram Moefana; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu; Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio; Paul Gabrillagues, Paul Willemse; Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Reda Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Paul Boudehent, Nolann Le Garrec, Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
OFFICIALS
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (Eng)
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
WHAT THEY SAID
Fabien Galthie (France head coach): "In four years, there hasn't been a game without a requirement to win. We’ve always heard the music in the background of requiring a win. Our mission has been for France to win, in the past the team won 35% of their games. There will be obstacles. The obstacles are the opponents."
Andy Farrell (Ireland head coach): "The exciting thing for me is are we brave enough, have we got enough courage to go and do what we said we're going to do and obviously we're playing against a world class side."
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Ireland 32-19 France - Aviva Stadium (11 February 2023, Six Nations)
France 30-24 Ireland – Stade de France (12 February 2022, Six Nations)
Ireland 13-15 France - Aviva Stadium (14 February 2021, Six Nations)
France 35-27 Ireland – Stade de France (31 October 2020, Six Nations)
Ireland 26-14 France – Aviva Stadium (10 March 2019, Six Nations)
Elsewhere, Italy, beaten in all five games last season, host England at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday with a 2.15pm (Irish time) kick-off. Wales and Scotland meet at the Principality Stadium at 4.45pm (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
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