Robbie Henshaw

Ireland v France: Team line-ups, kick-off time, key quotes, predictions, odds and where to watch on TV

By Sporting Life

Rugby Union

Sun March 10, 2019 · 7y ago

Our guide to Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash between Ireland and France includes team news, predictions, statistics and more.

Six Nations schedule, TV guide, results, table & history

What time is kick off & what channel is it on?

The match, which takes place in Dublin, will start at 1500 GMT on Sunday March 10 and will be screened live on ITV 1.

Ireland v France: Team news

Sean Cronin has been omitted from Ireland's 37-man squad for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with France in Dublin.

The 32-year-old hooker has paid the price for a below-par performance in Ireland's patchy 26-16 victory over Italy in Rome.

Ulster's Rob Herring has been added to Ireland's extended training squad, alongside captain Rory Best and Munster's Niall Scannell.

Kieran Marmion has been drafted in at scrum-half, while Robbie Henshaw and Dan Leavy have been ruled out through injury.

Centre Henshaw's absence proves a loss, with the British and Irish Lions star struggling far longer than expected with a dead leg.

Fly-half Joey Carbery has remained with the squad despite still battling a hamstring complaint, with head coach Joe Schmidt holding out hope that the Muster playmaker could be ready for Sunday's Dublin encounter.

Ireland: Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong; Henderson, James Ryan; O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander. Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Dillane, Conan, Cooney, Carty, Larmour.

France: Ramos; Penaud, Bastareaud, Fickou, Huget; Ntamack, Dupont; Poirot, Guirado, Bamba, Vahaamahina, Lambey, Lauret, Iturria, Picamoles. Replacements: Chat, Falgoux, Aldegheri, Willemse, Alldritt, Serin, Belleau, Medard.

Ireland v France: Odds & advice

Ireland have been made 15-point favourites on Sky Bet's opening handicap line, and they're as short as 1/16 to win the match and potentially keep their Six Nations title hopes alive.

France are 7/1 to cause an upset and 20/1 to draw. Click here for all the odds.

Tony Calvin's verdict (click here for full preview)

"Matches between these sides in Dublin have been very even in recent years - exactly even in fact, with Ireland winning the last two matches (by 10 and 7), drawing 13-13 in 2013, and losing (by three and four points) in a brace of 2011 encounters.

"Logic, those recent head-to-head results and maybe the weather (a damp day is forecast off-and-on), point you firmly towards France getting 15 points in a place.

"However, something tells me that Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell would have been laying down the law in the last fortnight - and the axing of Sean Cronin, after a poor Irish line-out display against Italy, from the 37-man squad on Wednesday morning could give that credence – and we may just see the real Ireland here."

Ireland v France: Key quotes

France coach Jacques Brunel...

"What England offered us was of high quality; we have worked since then but it's hard to predict everything.

"The Irish are going to put pressure on us with their kicking game whether it's Conor Murray or Johnny Sexton.

"We will try to master this characteristic of the Irish game.

"We watched their tournament matches, we saw their ability to hold the ball and inflict long sequences on their opponents.

"We know what to expect but they were well beaten by the English. There are weaknesses and we will try to pressurise those.

"They beat New Zealand in November and are still the number-two team in the world. But everything is moving quickly - look at Wales, who have almost become invincible.

"Ireland continue to be certain about their game and remain very successful, after losing to England they were able to bounce back against Italy.

"It's very difficult to take them on because their game is very well structured and programmed.

"Their group of players is difficult to counter. We must be effective and not lose energy, and we must make smart decisions."