Mike McCarthy
Former Ireland second row on BBC Radio Ulster

A big early test for this Irish scrum, particularly with so many men missing.

Donncha O'Callaghan
Former Ireland lock on BBC Radio 5 Live at the Stade de France

That was incredible and it shows these kind of players just slight on space and when someone gets there hands free, they can put them into a hole. They are lethal when they get a ball like that.

Both front rows collapse and we're going to go again.

Both sets of props have quite a lot of attention on them tonight, so this is an area to watch as the game goes on.

Benjamin Kayser
Former France hooker on ITV

As soon as he gets a bit of space, Bielle-Biarey is lethal.

Chris Ashton
Former England wing on BBC Radio 5 Live at the Stade de France

It will be interesting to see how France start because they had a poor Autumn.

Wow! Almost a first try for France.

Bielle-Biarrey gets his first bit of space down the left.

The trademark chip is into action and only a slight touch forward stops a certain try.

Ireland have a scrum but it's right on their own line.

Tommy O'Brien and Louis Bielle-Biarey have a great first contest in the air and it's the French wing, who lit up last year's tournament, who comes out on top this time.

Ben Kay
Former England lock on ITV

It is such a hostile atmosphere for the opposition team to play in.

France gather Sam Prendergast's kick off and Antoine Dupont gets his first touch in Blue for a year as he boots the ball into touch.

Donncha O'Callaghan
Former Ireland lock on BBC Radio 5 Live at the Stade de France

The first game is always hard to get up to speed at international level, if these two teams can bring a performance, it will be a great night.

The 2026 Six Nations is up and running!

Let's hope this one lives up to the billing.

With kick-off just moments away, here's a reminder of the teams.

France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri, Ollivon, Guillard, Cros, Jegou, Jelonch.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Montagne, Auradou, Meafou, Nouchi, Serin, Gourgues.

Ireland: Osborne; O'Brien, Ringrose, McCloskey, Stockdale; S Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Beirne, C Prendergast, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, Milne, Bealham, Ryan, Conan, Timoney, Casey, Crowley.

They cut the music early on into the anthem and let the players and crowd sing a capella.

Goosebumps. That's properly set the tone.

Lovely stuff.

Over to France. One of my favourites, I have to say.

This should be pretty loud, I reckon.

For the first time in this year's tournament, it's time for the anthems.

First up, it's Ireland's Call.

The players emerge from the bright lights of the tunnel to the darkness of the Stade de France, which is only illuminated by the odd strobe light and flames.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Ashton
Former England wing on BBC Radio 5 Live at the Stade de France

Because Dupont is such a great player we all expect him to just pick straight up where he left off but he's not quite done that for Toulouse. There has been both sides of it and tonight, I am sure he can put on a performance that the world is expecting to see.

Image source, Getty Images

That French warm-up top is well nice.

We're moving closer to kick-off and it's hard not to get really excited now.

There's a lights show at the stadium before the teams emerge in Paris, just to add that little bit more atmosphere.