France take on Ireland tonight in Paris for the opening match of the Six Nations for 2026 which is an odd day to say the least. Normally major sporting events are held over the weekend for peak television viewership and the reason why this match is being played on the Thursday and not Friday night. TV revenue is big business and the broadcasters can dictate when matches are played. The Winter Olympics is having their opening ceremony in Milan on Friday evening and rather than having the two events clash they thought it best to move the rugby match one day earlier.
I am sure many rugby fans around the world are unaware that the game is being played this evening and will miss out as this is not what we would call as being normal. I was reminded of tonight's match when reading an article this morning otherwise I would have also been unaware. The Stade De France is one of my favorite sporting venues having attended many matches in the past and tonight will be another special evening. One should expect to hear the Marseilles ringing out followed by the travelling Irish singing Zombie.
France vs Ireland in the Six Nations is always a great spectacle as it kind of sets the tone for the tournament. France is always an unknown factor as on the night they can be either world class or just average. France has the players and this is all down to how they have prepared physically and more important mentally. In 2023 when hosting the World Cup the French team thought the World Cup was theirs and expected to win the tournament out right which in all fairness they could have, but were over confident and this has affected them physiologically. I do think many of the French players are over rated and why when the team loses it is more of a shock to the French public than it is to rugby supporters around the world.
Ireland are in a difficult patch right now after being ranked number one in the World for a short period of time a few years ago. So much has changed and since their quarter final exit in the World Cup in 2023 facing the same exit as the French they have struggled ever since. Like the French the Irish thought they had a good crack at the World cup only to be found out that squad depth is a must have for any tournament. On their day they can humble any team, but as of late they have been found out that they have many weaknesses and teams will exploit those. The lessons that the South African team taught them late last year must be fresh in their minds and the French will use the same tactics.
Tonight's game i can see going no other way than a French victory mainly due to the Irish not having the depth in players to tackle the French team. Modern day rugby has come down to match ups over the full 80 minutes and the replacements used in the second half is where the game is won. The Irish starting team is a match for any team in the world, but come the 60th minute the cracks are exposed when the replacements are used and where the Irish are found lacking. The hope for any rugby fan is that the Irish have worked on their weaknesses and can be competitive for the full 80 minutes and there is no sterner test than playing the French in Paris to find out.
If I was a betting man which I am not I would say the French to win by 12-15 points and do not see how the Irish could win this game.