Last year's Six Nations wasn't complete when the fixtures for 2025 were released. For the most part, fans want to see who Ireland open and close the tournament with and how the two rest weeks fall.
England first up was a decent start, but finishing with Italy, as part of the final-day triple-header, is about as far from blockbuster as you can get - 2015 it certainly is not.
The schedule suggested that getting past England at home would lead to a winner-takes-all showdown with the French in Dublin, and so it has transpired.
There have been a few bumps on the road - the Welsh deciding to raise their performance to such a level that it felt like they got as much out of defeat as Simon Easterby's side did in victory, while England's late heroics at Twickenham scuppered French Grand Slam ambtions. Now the top two collide with a championship on the line.
If the game comes any way close to the 2023 classic at Aviva Stadium and the punters - assuming they are all sitting and engaged - are in for a treat. That occasion was a moment of Six Nations history as the top two sides in the world ranking met in the famous tournament. The players rose to the occasion, the hosts emerging victorious 32-19 as Andy Farrell secured his first win over Les Bleus. Easterby will hope for something similar tomorrow.
The narrative emerging around Fabien Galthié's side is that their need supercedes the hosts. The thinking being that with an array of talent at his disposal, four runners-up finishes in his five seasons isn't the return the French authorities, and indeed supporters demand.
While Ireland can lose and still realise a third championship on the spin (points difference will make that picture much clearer after the weekend), the visitors simply don't have that luxury.
The Ireland camp won't be concerning themselves with quantifying their motivation versus that of their opponents. They will stick to the mantra of 'one game at a time', swerve clear of Grand Slam talk and rightly point to the quality of Saturday's opponents. Yet the dog on the street will know that this is the defining game, one where Easterby's coaching credentials will, rightly or wrongly, be shaped.
Home fans will also look to give Peter O'Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray a Dublin send-off to remember, the final home Test for three of the most decorated careers of Irish rugby.
TV
Scotland v Wales (Saturday, 4.45pm) is on Virgin Media One.
ONLINE
RADIO
WEATHER
Scattered showers and occasional sunny spells, with most of the showers occurring in the south and west and some turning heavy. Temperatures reaching 11 to 15 degrees, in light to moderate easterly winds.
The odd years in the Six Nations always bring a touch of the glamour for Dublin fixtures as England and France roll into town. Even during France's lean years – primarily the 2010s where for the first decade since the 50s Ireland won more than they lost in the head-to-head – there is a real sense of occasion when Les Bleus arrive.
Given the growing rivalry between the two sides and their standings as the standout teams in the Six Nations, this was always earmarked as the game of the championship.
French head coach Galthie welcomes back Romain Ntamack from suspension and Damian Penaud from the bold corner after a below-par display at Twickenham. So often a thorn in Irish defences, the winger is now just a try short of Serge Blanco’s record.
The inclusion of both Gregory Alldritt and Caelan Doris in the respective teamsheets despite recent fitness concerns - the latter returning for his 50th cap – means arguably the most complete number 8s in world rugby get to battle it out at Lansdowne Road.
The greater talk around the French matchday selection has been around the bench selection. It has like we have been transported back to the Rugby World Cup and the build-up to the South Africa encounter such has been the focus on the replacements.
Like he plumped for against the Italians, Galthie has opted for just one back - scrum-half Maxime Lucu - in among French behemoths on the bench. Penaud, Thomas Ramos and talisman Antoine Dupont offer versatility, yet should a second back depart prematurely, it will bring the gamble into full scrutiny. It could prove to be the costliest split since Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott parted ways.
Easterby has followed the Andy Farrell mantra of a more conservative bench split (6:2), with Bundee Aki, Hugo Keenan and Finlay Bealham joining captain Doris in a return to the starting XV.
Jamie Osborne and James Lowe, for all their attacking prowess, will need to be fully switched on defensively against their direct numbers, the aforementioned Penaud and the electric Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Former Ireland international Bernard Jackman says the visitors will ask all kinds of questions, both on the ground and aerially, when they take to the pitch.
"They're hasn’t been a team attacking as well for a long time," he says of France. "No one else plays like them in world rugby.
"The biggest part of their game is that they kick it so long. They wait for you to make a mistake."
TEAMS
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt)
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Ryan Baird, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley
France: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Jean-Baptists Gros, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio, Mikael Guillard, Thinaud Flament, Francois Cros, Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Dorian Aldegheri, Emmanuel Meafou, Hugo Auradou, Oscar Jego, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lucu
OFFICIALS
Referee: Angus Gardner (AUS) ARs: Matthew Carley (RFU) and Christophe Ridley (RFU) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
WHAT THEY SAID:
Simon Easterby (interim Ireland head coach): "Saturday presents another huge opportunity for the squad to play at home, in front of a packed Aviva Stadium. The team has worked hard again this week and the preparation has been positive for what we know will be a huge test against France. There's great respect and rivalry between the two teams and it should be a cracking contest.
"This weekend gives the Irish public the chance to mark the final home international appearances for Peter, Cian and Conor - three stalwarts of Irish rugby who help drive the highest standards in our camp."
Fabien Galthié (France head coach): "What will be important for us is that we are able to play our style of rugby. Opposite us will be a team trying to prevent us doing that and we need a squad capable of playing as we wish to do so.
"That needs to be accompanied by decisive refereeing. A coherence in the reading of the match, like we have done since the beginning: preparing for the match with referees chipping in, what is expected, what they expect, what we expect, what will be tolerated, what will not be tolerated?"
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
France 35-27 Ireland - Stade de France (31 October 2020, Six Nations)
Ireland 13-15 France – Aviva Stadium (14 February 2021, Six Nations)
France 30-24 Ireland – Stade de France (12 February 2022, Six Nations)
Ireland 32-19 France – Aviva Stadium (11 February 2023, Six Nations)
France 17-38 Ireland - Stade Velodrome (2 February 2024, Six Nations)
