It may still be bitterly cold today, but worry not, the first true sign of spring arrives this weekend. It's the return of the Six Nations!
Ireland head to Paris for the opening round of the great competition, kicking off at 4.45 pm on Saturday. In previewing the opposition, we can justifiably turn to clichés: we simply don't know what France will turn up by dint of their employing a new coach, and a raft of new players.
We do, however, know the Irish side they'll be facing. Joe Schmidt has today named the Irish team to face France.
Three Irish players make their Six Nations debuts: James Ryan, Bundee Aki, and Jacob Stockdale. Rob Kearney has fended off the challenge of Jordan Larmour to start at full-back, with Stockdale and Keith Earls on the wing. With Garry Ringrose injured, Aki reprise his old Connacht partnership with Robbie Henshaw.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are the half-backs to nobody's surprise. Cian Healy gets the nod ahead of Jack McGrath to partner Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong in the front-row. Iain Henderson is Ryan's second-row partner, while Josh Van Der Flier replaces the injured Sean O'Brien in the back row, where he has Peter O'Mahony and CJ Stander for company.
With Andrew Conway absent through injury, Fergus McFadden is among the replacements.
Here's the team in full.
Irish team to face France
Here's the Ireland team to play France in the #NatWest6Nations on Saturday #TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/lhgSCTfVjw
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 1, 2018
For the first time, the game is live on TV3. Kick off, to remind you, is at 4.45pm on Saturday evening at the Stade de France.
