TO-STREAMS))** Six Nations Rugby 2024 LIVE FREE ON TV CHANNEL
France vs Ireland live stream: How to watch 2024 Six Nations online and on TV. The 2024 Six Nations kicks off tonight with a clash between France and Ireland.
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It is a showdown between the two favourites which gets the tournament underway this year with Marseille playing host due to Paris' preparations for the summer Olympics.
France may be without Antoine Dupont for much the same reason but they are being backed by many to reclaim the trophy they lost to the Irish a year ago.
Both teams are still reeling from a fantastic opportunity to go all the way at the Rugby World Cup ending at the quarter-final stage. But serious silverware is on offer with the Six Nations back at the centre of their attention.
France vs Ireland live stream, date, time, channels
The France vs Ireland live stream takes place on today (Feb 2).
Time: 8 p.m. GMT / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 7 a.m. AEDT (Feb 3)
U.K. — ITVX (FREE)
U.S. — Peacock
U.S. — Stan Sport
Watch anywhere
The France vs Ireland live stream sees the current holders travel to Marseille as they look to start this year’s Six Nations with a statement victory against the tournament favorites at the Stade Vélodrome today
Despite talismanic captain Antoine Dupont not playing for France because of his commitment to his country’s sevens team for the Olympics, Les Bleus are viewed as the favorites to win the Six Nations. Coach Fabien Galthié still has a wealth of talent at his disposal, including wing Damian Penaud, in-form fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and the hugely exciting 20-year-old Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
The French also feel they have a point to prove after their heartbreaking quarter-final defeat by South Africa at last year’s Rugby World Cup and plan to use the frustration of this loss to spur them on in Marseille. However, the Irish are in a similar position, having also exited the World Cup at the last eight stage after an incredible run of victories.
Ireland have also lost their inspirational leader after Johnny Sexton retired following his long and successful career, but coach Andy Farrell will believe there is enough quality in the squad to retain their title. They will also be able to call upon last year’s result when they beat France 32-19 en route to a Grand Slam.
France vs Ireland today, Friday, February 2, kicks off the Six Nations 2024 in spectacular style. The two pre-tournament favorites meeting in the opening fixture represents arguably the biggest encounter in the competition – it's a game that simply cannot be missed.
Game day is upon us and the countdown to kick-off is already underway in Paris, with the big news that Maxime Lucu starts at scrum half in the Sevens absence of Antoine Dupont. To get you in the mood, we've listed the teams below...
France: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Yoram Moefana; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu; Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio, Paul Gabrillagues, Paul Willemse, Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony (captain), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris
A mighty question looms large over France: have Les Bleus recovered from the heartbreaking Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa? Add to that hangover the fact that captain Antoine Dupont will be absent and Fabien Galthie has much to ponder.
Ireland suffered their own painful, razor-thin quarter-final exit in last year's RWC but Andy Farrell has refreshed his squad impressively. Jonny Sexton is now retired, meaning Jack Crowley has some big shoes to fill, but the Munster fly half has the game to do that over time. Peter O’Mahony is the new skipper.
With the Stade de France out of commission due to preparations for 2024's Paris Olympic Games, the first game of this Six Nations will take place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. The start time is at 8pm GMT (3pm ET / 12pm PT) today, which is 7am AEDT in Australia.
With so much expected of these sides at the RWC, both sets of players and coaches will still have raw memories of their teams' respective painful quarter-final defeats.
For Ireland, there's a sense of a new dawn though, with the Johnny Sexton era now over. That leaves Peter O'Mahony as the new captain and Munster number 10 Jack Crowley expected to start at fly-half – both have huge shoes to fill.
The Men in Green swept all before them in last year's Six Nations, having waited five years since their previous championship. They did so in dominant style, too, chalking up their third Grand Slam in the current era. Andy Farrell will be determined to cement his legacy ahead of his gig coaching the British & Irish Lions, and that starts in Marseille today.
Ireland aren't the only side ruing the departure of their star man. Captain Antoine Dupont – winner of the last two successive Player of the Championship awards – has taken the somewhat radical step of sitting out this year's tournament in favour of preparing to lead the French Sevens team at the Olympics in the summer. Romain Ntamack is also missing for this one through injury, meaning a fresh halfback pairing of Maxime Lucu and Mathieu Jalibert.
The 2024 Six Nations begins with an absolute blockbuster in Marseille tonight. The match that has decided this competition over the last two years is first up on the schedule this time around, with hopes high of a repeat of the incredible clash from 12 months ago that will live long in the memory. While it's far too early to dub this as a title decider of course, it certainly wouldn't be a shock if the winners of a battle between the last two Grand Slam winners once again went on to lift the trophy in March.
Both sides have the added incentive of attempting to bounce back from disappointing World Cup quarter-final exits in the autumn, while both Fabien Galthie and Andy Farrell have lost their most influential player since then with Antoine Dupont's surprise decision to play Olympic sevens in Paris this summer and the great Johnny Sexton's rugby retirement.
Maxime Lucu is charged with stepping into Dupont's considerable shoes this evening, with Gregory Alldritt and Peter O'Mahony now serving as the respective captains as the Men in Green hand tournament debuts to both Calvin Nash and Joe McCarthy.
Les Bleus have made the decision to play around the country during this Six Nations as a result, facing Ireland at the Stade Velodrome before hosting Italy in Lille in round three and then heading to Lyon to play England on Super Saturday.
With Antoine Dupont absent as he bids for Olympic gold with the French sevens team, Maxime Lucu starts at scrum half and Gregory Alldritt takes over the France captaincy. Paul Willemse and Paul Gabrillagues are paired in the second row after injuries to both Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament, and the versatile Yoram Moefana is preferred to Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the wing with both in flying form for Bordeaux Begles.
Nolann Le Garrec should get a debut at scrum half from the bench, which includes six forwards in a familiar split utilised by Fabien Galthie. Another debutant that group is the super-sized teenage lock Posolo Tuilagi, son of Henry and nephew of Manu, who has been whistled in with Romain Taofifenua ill.
Jack Crowley steps in for the retired Johnny Sexton at fly half for Ireland, while his Munster teammate Calvin Nash is the beneficiary of an injury to Mack Hansen on the right wing. Garry Ringrose has also been ruled out of the opener, with Robbie Henshaw starting at 13. Joe McCarthy, outstanding for Leinster this season, is preferred to James Ryan and Iain Henderson as Tadhg Beirne’s engine room partner.
Andy Farrell opts for a six forwards to two backs bench split, with plenty of experience among his group of replacements. Loosehead Cian Healy needs nine more caps to pass Brian O’Driscoll as Ireland’s record appearance maker.