Six Nations 2024: Championship favorites France and Ireland reignite rivalry in must-see tournament opener

Ireland and France may have avoided each other during the Rugby World Cup, but Friday’s meeting marks a fascinating new chapter in their bitter rivalry, kicking off this year’s Six Nations in style. I promise to do it.

Over the past few years, this match has become a must-see. It was the loudest and most glamorous Six Nations, full of big hits, roars and scores.

In 2022, France took control of the title race with a hard-fought victory at the Stade de France.

They ultimately finished the tournament with a Grand Slam, but pulled out 12 months later as Ireland exacted revenge at the Dublin Classic for a clean sweep of their country.

But a lot has happened since these blue and green giants last collided.

Both still bear the scars of having their World Cup dreams shattered. Ireland, who defeated eventual champions South Africa in the group stage, succumbed to the All Blacks again in the quarter-finals.

Host France was eliminated 24 hours later, losing to the Springboks in the quarterfinals. Neither team has played since. Somber reflection was essential to the journey here.

There will also be changes in key personnel. Ireland captain Johnny Sexton’s retirement after the World Cup had long been foreshadowed, while France captain Antoine Dupont’s decision to skip the Six Nations and pursue his Olympic dreams under Sevens regulations was a major blow to his home country. It shocked me.

While these developments rob the match of its two most talked-about protagonists, they also pave the way for a new star to be born and a new storyline to be written at the Stade Velodrome on Friday.

Ireland are keen to avoid any talk of a ‘fresh start’ or ‘new era’, despite the heavy burden of another miserable World Cup defeat and the loss of one of their greatest players of all time. .

For them, it’s a return to work in earnest as they aim to become the first in the Six Nations era to win back-to-back Grand Slams.

Head coach Andy Farrell sees this year not as the start of a new four-year cycle, but rather as a continuation of a journey that has tested his responsibilities in every aspect since taking over in 2019.

Farrell will miss next year’s Championship to oversee the British & Irish Lions’ tour of Australia, but he has prepared a largely familiar squad, with Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash the only players making their Six Nations debuts. ing.

This is also a strong team. Garry Ringrose’s injury is a blow, but Robbie Henshaw has taken his place and McCarthy has been exceptional for Leinster in recent months, having featured in a World Cup despite being just 22 years old.

There are two aspects to Sexton’s succession plan. But while new captain Peter O’Mahony is unfazed by the size of the French side, he can’t escape the idea that it’s going to be a big night for Jack Crowley.

Consider how some of Ireland’s greatest players used the French game to put their names in illumination. Brian O’Driscoll’s hat trick in 2000, Sexton’s drop goal in 2018. Friday could be Crowley’s turn to come of age on French soil.

Even though they have never played in Marseille before, this Irish team knows how to win and knows how to embrace the intensity of this big night.

The same goes for France. Even with the loss of Dupont’s mercurial flair and the still-injured Romain Ntamack’s dexterity at outhalf, Fabien Galthie’s side still pack a powerful punch and are considered by many to be favorites to win the title. I believe.

Bordeaux’s Maxime Lukku, who played the role when Dupont was injured at the World Cup, will again deputize for Dupont, while full-backs Thomas Ramos, Mathieu Jalibert and Yoram Moefana have been in good form for the club this season. ing.

Experienced back-rower Gregory Aldritt will be captain, while try-scoring machine Damien Penault, who has scored an astonishing 13 crosses in his last eight games for France, will start. , France looks to be doing well.

These two powerhouse teams have given us many captivating Six Nations matches over the years. The stage may be different, but Friday’s opening is sure to draw us back again.

It would be unfair to call this a championship match. But this is definitely a match with significant stakes, countless subplots, and one that will send a signal to other challengers.

Whether that light is green or green remains to be seen, but it feels like the latest Six Nations show is about to kick off with a bang.