Match Thread: France v Ireland. 6 Nations 2026, 05th Feb. ITV and Virgin Media KO 8:10pm.

dublinman1990 · 05-02-2026 09:05PM

I'm going to be honest here in saying that I'm not sure whether Ireland would win in Paris tonight or whether France will demolish them on the 1st night of the Championship. If Ireland is offering a experimental team going into the 1st 6N match against the French; I feel that our team are not going to have an easy time out there on the pitch if France are seen to be too powerful to get them over the line with scoring tries. I think France would win this game tonight with a try or two if they have the grit & attrition within them to tear apart our Irish front row tonight with considerable ease.

I also have no idea what is France's win rate against other opposing teams if those in opposition offered experimental rugby sides against France on paper. If France are definitely capable to blitz themselves to win big against these experimental teams; what does that situation provide for the Irish team run by Andy Farrell & his management team in Paris tonight?

It could be quite easy out there for Ireland or it could be tough for them on the 1st night of this Championship.

I would take a French win with them taking one or two tries for the taking with Ireland asking themselves a lot of potential questions about their performance for the remainder of this Championship. France by 8 or 15.

RogerThis · 05-02-2026 09:05PM

Ireland aren't here to make up the numbers. I think our scrum will suprise a lot of people. Come on Ireland!

Manc-Red_ · 05-02-2026 09:05PM

Come on Lads!

For Petes Sake · 05-02-2026 09:06PM

Genuinely don't know how to feel about this.

amacca · 05-02-2026 09:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124209176#Comment_124209176

They must all have second or third jobs to make ends meet....no time to shave, multiple mortgages to service!

Manc-Red_ · 05-02-2026 09:07PM

🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

Breaston Plants · 05-02-2026 09:07PM

Yer man , the " Growler" commentating on Virgin...........switches channel.

Itssoeasy · 05-02-2026 09:07PM

The national anthem of Ireland. It isn’t.

DellyBelly · 05-02-2026 09:07PM

Hair on the back of the neck stuff...come on Ireland

TRC10 · 05-02-2026 09:07PM

Listening to the Virgin Media coverage, what I find amazing is that in the space of two years, Ireland have gone from Grand Slam Champions, No.1 ranked team in the World, favourites to win the World Cup, to plucky underdogs, “maybe if it lashes rain we can sneak a LBP”, “this would be one of our most famous victories”, and everybody is just completely accepting of it. Nobody seems to care or wants to question why this has happened. It’s bizarre to me.

If NZ or SA suffered such a rapid decline, there’d be a national inquest and questions asked of the coaching staff. Here, we just shrug our shoulders and say “it is what it is”.

ctrl-alt-delete · 05-02-2026 09:08PM

Having to watch on ITV here, can only get better after the anthems. Sound was terrible.

For Petes Sake · 05-02-2026 09:09PM

This absolute nonsense. I want to hear the crowd singing the anthems, not the players.

DellyBelly · 05-02-2026 09:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124209311#Comment_124209311

yes thought the same...come on Ireland

Manc-Red_ · 05-02-2026 09:10PM

Expecting them to come at us like a torpedo.

clsmooth · 05-02-2026 09:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124209314#Comment_124209314

When did we last travel to Paris as favourites? Also missing your first 3 LH options and your TH starter isn’t ideal is it? Games tend to be won in the front 5.