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Ireland Written Off in Paris? Farrell Names Six Nations Team as France Installed Heavy Favourites

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Ireland Written Off in Paris? Farrell Names Six Nations Team as France Installed Heavy Favourites

Ireland have been priced as outsiders for Thursday night’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations opener in Paris, with bookmakers firmly backing France — despite Andy Farrell naming an experienced and battle-hardened Match Day 23.

Caelan Doris will captain Ireland at the Stade de France as the 2026 Championship gets under way, but betting markets suggest expectations are low for the visitors, with France listed at 1/7 to win and Ireland drifting to 5/1.

Selection calls at out-half continue to dominate discussion, with Harry Byrne once again the unluckiest omission as Farrell opts for Sam Prendergast to start and Jack Crowley to cover from the bench.

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Farrell Backs Continuity for Paris Test

Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale form the back three, while Stuart McCloskey partners Garry Ringrose in midfield. Jamison Gibson-Park and Prendergast are named in the half-backs as Farrell prioritises tempo and game control.

In the pack, Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan and Thomas Clarkson start in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne combining in the engine room. Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier and Doris complete the back row.

Harry Byrne the Unlucky Loser Again

Byrne’s absence will raise eyebrows, particularly given his recent form and the condensed nature of the Six Nations. With Ireland light on depth at out-half in recent campaigns, his continued exclusion underlines just how tight Farrell’s selection calls have become.

Instead, Farrell has doubled down on familiarity, with Crowley again trusted as the primary replacement playmaker.

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Bench Built for Paris Intensity

Ireland’s bench contains significant power and experience, with Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan and Jack Conan all primed to make an impact, while Craig Casey and Crowley provide tempo and control in the closing stages.

Squad Stats: Experience and Provincial Split

  • Total caps in Match Day 23: 786
  • Average caps per player: 34

Provincial representation:

  • Leinster: 13 players
  • Munster: 5 players
  • Ulster: 3 players
  • Connacht: 2 player

Leinster again dominate the selection, particularly across the leadership group and spine of the side, while Connacht’s sole representative is Finlay Bealham.

Farrell: “An Amazing Tournament”

“I’ve been pleased with the application of the squad since we linked up last week and we’ve a good body of work under our belts from our training camp in Portugal,” Farrell said.

“The Six Nations is an amazing tournament to compete in and it brings out the best in players. We know what the Stade de France brings and how proud and vocal the travelling Irish support can be.”

Betting: France Strong Favourites

The betting markets paint a clear picture ahead of kick-off:

  • Match odds: France 1/7, Ireland 5/1, Draw 35/1
  • Handicap: France -13 (10/11), Ireland +13 (10/11)
  • Six Nations outright: France 8/11, Ireland 6/1

Despite Ireland’s recent competitiveness in Paris, bookmakers expect France’s power and home advantage to prove decisive.

Live Coverage

The match kicks off at 8.10pm Irish time and is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.

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Ireland v France – Match Day 23

15. Jamie Osborne (Leinster)
14. Tommy O’Brien (Leinster)
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)
10. Sam Prendergast (Leinster)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)

1. Jeremy Loughman (Munster)
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Leinster)
4. Joe McCarthy (Leinster)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster)
6. Cian Prendergast (Connacht)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain)

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Michael Milne, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley

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When does Invincible season 4 premiere? First look, returning voice cast and more

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Invincible season 4 is the next part of the amazing animated superhero series on Prime Video. It will show what has happened to Mark Grayson as he deals with the results of his previous choices. Season 4 comes at a time when season 3 ended with its hero having gotten darker, and so the story will be more intense and emotionally complicated.

The show has a loyal fan base since it first aired in 2021 because of its mixture of superhero elements and focus on the characters. In season 4, the series will most likely unfold more aspects of the universe, bringing in new enemies as well as making the existing disputes more complex.

The new season is still based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, and the show hasn’t lost its interest in major fights as well as in individual problems.

Invincible season 4 premieres on March 18, 2026, on Amazon Prime Video, continuing Mark Grayson’s story with returning voices like Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, and J.K. Simmons alongside new cast additions.


When and where is Invincible season 4 releasing?

Invincible season 4 is coming to Amazon Prime Video on March 18, 2026. It can be streamed in over 240 countries and territories as it rolls out globally via the platform. Like all the previous seasons, season 4 will be included in the Prime Video library and accessible only to Prime subscribers.

The release keeps the show on track since the first two seasons were released on Prime Video as well. Even though the time when each episode will be made public has not been disclosed yet in the draft, the series has used both weekly and split-release formats before.

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So, fans might see season 4 mainly as one of the platform’s top animated titles. Subscribers can also watch all the previous seasons, so it is possible to catch up on the earlier stories before season 4 is out. The series is still one of the most popular animated shows on Prime Video, with a great audience and critical response.

Read More: Will there be a Virgin River season 8? Renewal status explained/explored


More details on Invincible season 4

Invincible season 4 (Image Via Prime Video)Invincible season 4 (Image Via Prime Video)
Invincible season 4 (Image Via Prime Video)

Invincible season 4 will begin right after the events of the last season, when Mark Grayson’s story came to a rather bleak point. Naturally, the new season dives deep into the repercussions of his actions, especially as he fiercely resolves to shield those dearest to him.

Prime Video says,

“As the world slowly recovers from its recent ordeal, a changed Mark is battling to safeguard his home and his loved ones, a path that leads him to a confrontation with a threat that might change the destiny of humanity forever”.

New villains like Thragg, Dinosaurus, and Universa are among the introduced characters in Invincible season 4. They are likely to be instrumental in widening the conflict as Mark and his team confront more and more perilous situations. The story still revolves around Mark’s difficulties in juggling his superhero obligations and his personal life, which is, in fact, the show’s main focus so far.

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The voice cast of season 4 reunites some of the familiar faces, with Steven Yeun reprising his role as Mark Grayson, Sandra Oh coming back as Debbie Grayson, and J.K. Simmons returning as Nolan Grayson. The show carries on with a huge ensemble cast that features famous actors like Gillian Jacobs, Seth Rogen, Walton Goggins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, and Mark Hamill.

Besides the familiar voices, Invincible season 4 unveils a brand new set of actors to the cast, such as Lee Pace, Matthew Rhys, and Danai Gurira. These new faces are likely to stir up the series’ dynamics, especially as they unfold their roles as the main villains of the story.

Characters like Atom Eve and the Guardians of the Globe who are an integral part of the show’s main storyline will also continue to be a part of the season. As the storyline goes on, Invincible season 4 will be the characters developing their already intertwined relationships and, at the same time, widening the scope of their conflicts.

Read More: Shrinking season 3 episode 7 ending explained: What happened to Maya?

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The show will premiere exclusively on March 18, 2026, on Prime Video.