France and Ireland will go toe-to-toe in the opening fixture of the 2026 Six Nations, with both teams looking to show their title credentials against one of their main rivals.
The two Test heavyweights have held a duopoly over the Championship in recent years, with them splitting the past four titles between them equally, and they once again come into the 2026 edition with their sights firmly set on silverware.
You feel there is a tad more expectation on Les Bleus this year, given they come into it as defending champions. Fabien Galthie has also only heightened that following the shock omissions of stalwarts Gael Fickou, Gregory Alldritt and most notably Damian Penaud, with him starting to look for fresher options across his…