The competitors to find out one of the best staff in Europe begins in early February, marking the start of the 2024 Six Nations tournament. European nations didn’t have a lot luck on the World Cup final 12 months. Nevertheless, the second cycle will begin in France on Friday, February 3.

This version of the match is anticipated to be very aggressive since the entire high contenders might want to deal with some uncertainties. Eire triumphed within the 2023 Six Nations match, they usually’ll kickstart this 12 months’s competitors within the opening sport versus France.

Be a part of us as we preview The Six Nations 2024 opening match between Eire and France, as we break down the intricacies of this intriguing battle.

France vs. Eire Sport Data

Date: Friday, February 3rd, 2024

Location: Orange Velodrome, Marseille, France

Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

The place to Watch: ITV, RTE & Virgin Media

France & Eire: The Groups to Beat

France and Eire have achieved the Grand Slam within the final two tournaments and are as soon as once more anticipated to be essentially the most fearsome rivals.

France advantages from a strategic benefit within the fixture listing since their most difficult matches in opposition to Eire and England are scheduled on residence soil.

Eire has not emerged victorious in France since their shut 15-13 triumph in 2018. Overcoming this streak will show to be difficult, particularly within the presence of a fervent French viewers.

The retirement of Captain Johnny Sexton is a setback for his or her aspirations. In consequence, it’s possible that Eire may have challenges securing the main place within the Six Nations this 12 months.

France vs. Eire: The Historical past

Eire secured a 32-19 victory with a bonus level over France within the 2023 Championship.

Total, these sides have competed in a grand complete of 102 take a look at matches since their first encounter in 1909. France was victorious in 59, while Eire received 36. Moreover, there have been a complete of seven video games that led to a tie between the 2 international locations.

Six Nations 2024 Betting Odds Perception

France [5/4]

France didn’t capitalise on their residence benefit within the World Cup final 12 months, as they had been eradicated within the quarterfinals after an intense match in opposition to South Africa in Paris.

Nonetheless, their prospects of reaching Six Nations triumph this 12 months are undeniably enhanced by the advantageous circumstance of internet hosting each Eire and England. Nevertheless, Antoine Dupont won’t take part within the French staff this 12 months, because the famend athlete dedicates his consideration to sevens rugby in anticipation of the Summer season Olympics. France emerged because the main staff within the rugby rankings in 2022, they usually have a robust likelihood of surpassing their second-place efficiency from the earlier 12 months.

Eire [13/8]

Eire will embark on a brand new chapter of their rugby journey with out the presence of Jonny Sexton. The staff goals to safe a consecutive victory within the Six Nations match, as they exerted their dominance within the sport final 12 months by reaching a Grand Slam victory, triumphing over all their opponents.

Nevertheless, critics stay ambiguous concerning the staff’s chance of efficiently retaining the crown since there could also be extreme strain on the up-and-coming gamers to safe a major win proper from the beginning in a rustic, France, the place they haven’t obtained victory since 2018. Nonetheless, it’s unbelievable that they’ll end this competitors under the highest two positions. Regardless of the rising squad issues, highly recommended Irish gambling sites nonetheless favour the staff to do effectively with odds of 13/8.

Coping With out Johnny Saxton

Though Eire will confidently method the match, the absence of Sexton will definitely create a major void of their backline. Eire’s famend captain retired after the World Cup, leading to a management change on the sector as they enter the Six Nations.

Sexton guided Eire to victory in 4 Six Nations tournaments and now holds the file for essentially the most tally of factors within the competitors, with a complete of 566. Coach Andy Farrell will depend on new captain Peter O’Mahony to exchange the departed influential determine.

The Munster flanker is skilled in management, having beforehand led his facet 10 instances and in addition main the British and Irish Lions. He’ll eagerly present his gratitude to Farrell by successful the Six Nations championship for the second consecutive 12 months.

Along with Sexton’s management, Eire will really feel the absence of the previous fly-half’s scoring means. Consequently, there may be strain on his subordinates to carry out at the next stage. Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, and Harry Byrne, regardless of having only a mixed complete of 12 appearances, have been chosen to exchange Sexton at fly-half.

In addition to the absence of Saxton, alterations have been made elsewhere to the Ireland World Cup team, who suffered a defeat within the quarterfinals. Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoneyhave reentered consideration for choice, together with Jordan Larmour, Cian Healy, and Calvin Nash, who had been unable to take part within the match in France as a consequence of damage.

Revenge Sport for Les Bleus

Through the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, France fought fiercely in opposition to Eire till Tremendous Saturday. Nonetheless, it finally needed to settle for second place as Andy Farrell’s staff achieved an ideal file of 5 victories out of 5.

The Spherical 1 match in Marseille might be a rematch of a pivotal encounter that ultimately decided the end result of the 2023 Championship.

Eire was victorious in opposition to France with a rating of 32-19 at Aviva Stadium throughout Spherical 2 final 12 months. This fixture might be famend for its distinctive normal, making it probably the most remembered Guinness Six Nations video games so far; nevertheless, this 12 months, boasting a house benefit, it’s undoubtedly the French facet’s sport to lose.

As beforehand talked about, Eire remains to be a viable contender. Nonetheless, France, who’ve had a spectacular transformation in recent times, is the frontrunner to win and will definitely present the most important problem to the Irish.

Given the anticipated sturdy efficiency from either side, it’s fairly doubtless that the champions of this 12 months’s competitors might be decided throughout the first weekend, as it’s fairly doubtless that the victors of this encounter will finally emerge as the general winners.