Image source, Inpho

Ireland lock James Ryan feels a quick start away to France in the Six Nations opener is "unbelievably important" for the visitors.

Andy Farrell's side will begin their 2026 campaign at the Stade de France on Thursday (20:10 GMT) in a game brought forward to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Friday.

While Ireland beat France in Marseille two years ago, and won at the Stade de France against Scotland and South Africa during the 2023 World Cup, they have not beat Les Bleus at the venue since 2018.

"I think a big start is definitely unbelievably important for us," said Ryan.

"They get the tails up and the crowd get behind them and they're into their flow, so a fast start for us is always important but particularly so this weekend.

"I think going away from home over in Paris, you've got to start well."

Image source, Getty Images

Captain Caelan Doris says Ireland are determined to atone for a disappointing end to last year's Six Nations, starting with next week's tournament opener against holders France.

Ireland beat England, Scotland and Wales to secure the 2025 Triple Crown before their bid for a third successive title fell apart in a hugely demoralising 42-27 loss to France in Dublin.

While Ireland endured a mixed autumn campaign that included losses to New Zealand and South Africa, Doris says the squad are targeting a statement win over Les Bleus in the Thursday night curtain-raiser at Stade de France.

"The way the fixtures fell last year we obviously had the Triple Crown after three games and it was the last two games that let us down," the 27-year-old Leinster back row told the BBC.

"We obviously won in Rome but the nature of the performance wasn't where we would have liked it and having lost to France the week before, it left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth.

"So there's excitement for upping the performances and getting the results we're after from the start this year."

Ireland Rugby

That's all from Andy Farrell in his press conference on today's squad.

We'll have more analysis on his team selection, and stay tuned for France's team announcement at 10am.

We're expecting a certain Mr A. Dupont to return for that. You may have heard of him.

Image source, Inpho

Farrell on the selecting brothers Sam and Cian Prendergast to start in Paris: "It's lovely. You can tell they tried to keep it on the down low in front of all of their team-mates but I'm sure behind the scenes, along with their parents, they are proud as punch."

Farrell why he chose Jamie Osborne, who has been out injured since November, to replace Hugo Keenan at full-back: "Knowing his temperament and how diligent he is in his preparation, which is top drawer by the way, there's no better man.

"Jacob [Stockdale] is playing well, he deserves his chance on the left wing. Hugo has been unbelievably unlucky. He was looking sharp coming back in and I really feel for him to have the thumb injury.

"You look at the likes of Jimmy O'Brien or Mack Hansen or others [without Keenan] and Jamie is the one who is going to fill the spot for us.

"He's had a shoulder injury so he's fit, he's certainly showed that in the last week."

Image source, Inpho

Farrell on the injured prop Tadhg Furlong, who has been nursing an calf injury: "The right thing to do with Tadhg is, for us and for him, is understand what history has told us. To push hard for this game could have meant we end up with egg on our face on both sides. We expect him to be fully fit for the week after,."

Image source, Inpho

Farrell on selecting Jacob Stockdale ahead of James Lowe: "There's always a debate to be had and Jacob deserves it."

On no Edwin Edogbo in the squad: "He's still learning. Letting people taste the environment, we like to get them into it as soon as we can. Edwin missed that, and there's an art of getting up to speed. It would have been a fascistic week for him, he's had a great week but he's still finding his feet like a few others."

Image source, Getty Images

Farrell on whether this will be his most challenging Six Nations: "It's obvious why you guys say that and who's the favourites and all that but it really doesn't matter to us. All we control is the controllables.

"We want to be as good a team as we can possibly be and if we're pulling in the right direction and chasing that down, we need to prove to ourselves that we can also be the best team in the competition."

Farrell on Cian Prendergast: "We feel he has matured a lot. The captaincy has helped a lot in Connacht as well, taking the responsibility and to channel his thoughts in another way. We were delighted with how he took his chance in the autumn, he is another who has been waiting for a big moment. He's across most things in his game. He's pretty impressive."

Image source, Inpho

More from Farrell on Stockdale who will make a first Six Nations outing since 2021: "He's back to being himself this year, that's for sure. If you speak to him, he's delighted that he's simplified things and got back to what he's good at which is beating people.

"We've seen that plenty this season."

Ireland Rugby

Andy Farrell on Jacob Stockdale itching to start: "Yeah, he is. Like a good few others. I suppose everyone, Jeremey Loughman too for example, everyone who doesn't get a chance is always trying to fight to get back in. They have fought hard enough to earn the right to take responsibility in a big game. The opening game in Paris, it doesn't get any bigger. It's a fantastic opportunity."

Ireland Rugby

Andy Farrell is about to sit down in front of the camera.

He's made a lot of big calls, now let's hear what he has to say.

Image source, Getty Images

In dreadful form last year, Ulster only had three players in Andy Farrell's entire 36-man Ireland squad.

One year on, Richie Murphy's side are flying high in the United Rugby Championship and have three players - Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney - in the matchday 23 for Paris.

Some turnaround.

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

Feels like it's been a long time since Farrell's choice of fly-half was this low down the list of talking points the day of a team announcement.

For my money, while the ways in which Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast started the season left little choice to start the former against the All Blacks in November, Prendergast has been Farrell's man for 2027 since the moment he was selected against Australia in November 2025.

Harry Byrne has certainly vaulted up the pecking order since returning from his loan with Bristol last season but, for all the debates about his defensive shortcomings, what Prendergast brings with his passing range is the deciding factor.

Image source, Inpho

You can watch Andy Farrell's press conference from 09:00 GMT, so in about 10 minutes or so.

Hear the thoughts of Ireland's head coach as they happen, and we'll also have updates.

Murray, who played in the 38-17 win in Marseille two years ago, echoed Trimble's comments and insisted Farrell will use his motivational skills to ensure Ireland improve on the standards that saw them fall to New Zealand and South Africa in November.

"Talking about the Marseille game in '24, we were questioned about form and not clicking.

"The last game we had played was the quarter-final against New Zealand and we had the most detailed review of a game I had in my career.

"We looked at that game and Andy pointed out in black and white so many situations where we could have been better, that last 20 minutes against New Zealand when we struggled and tried to find a try.

"Andy showed clips of us if we were a little bit braver or believed in ourselves and stuck to the plan that Andy will be trying to instil in them. That's where my confidence comes in this group.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell must pick from a depleted squad after a spate of injuries which has robbed him of seasoned Test players like Andrew Porter, Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and Robbie Henshaw.

But Farrell's Ireland defied the odds when they secured an impressive opening win over France in Marseille in the 2024 Six Nations with a performance that emphatically eased fears of a post-World Cup hangover.

"The Farrell factor is the bit that balances it up," said Andrew Trimble, who won 70 Ireland caps between 2005 and 2017.

"On paper, it feels like the scrum is more important than ever. [There are] one or two other injuries, a handful of lads you'd want to be in better form, and then no stability or consistency at 10.

"There's so many guys all playing OK at best. If there were so many young lads banging on the door, then you'd go 'OK, a spark of youth and enthusiasm to ignite this team' but there's only a couple of those guys.

"All of that on paper says we can't go to Paris and be excited, but Farrell always finds a way to get something out of these guys. He's done it less recently but he has enough credit in the bank."

Image source, Getty Images

Five-time Six Nations winner Conor Murray admits he is "worried" about some of Ireland's issues heading into next week's mouthwatering tournament opener against France in Paris.

Ireland, who relinquished their title to Les Bleus in 2025, will travel to Stade de France without several key players through injury, as well as the suspended Bundee Aki.

France, who hammered the Irish 42-27 in Dublin last year, are also without a host of established internationals, but Murray feels Fabien Galthie's side will have the edge in the French capital next week.

"I think France will be a little bit too tough for the first game," Murray, who won 125 Ireland caps, said on the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.

"I hate saying that because I'm recently out of the dressing room, but I do think it'll be a little bit too far to go.

"I do, however, think they'll put in a performance and we'll see some sort of shape to what Ireland are trying to do and hopefully a few of the new guys come in and hold their head high after a game like that."

Murray added: "I'm worried now with the front-row issues and the loose-head situation and the way it ties into the story of the South Africa game [in which the Irish scrum was decimated during November's Test in Dublin].

"I'm definitely more worried now than I was a few weeks ago."