France make title statement by obliterating Ireland in Six Nations opener

French rugby was rocked by the sudden retirement of tighthead prop Uini Atonio, who suffered a cardiac event recently. At fly-half, Bordeaux’s Matthieu Jalibert starts, with Toulouse fly-half Romain Ntamack out injured. Anthony Jelonch starts at number eight, with Gregory Alldritt not in the squad.

France starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos; 14 Theo Attissogbe; 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain); 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Dorian Aldegheri; 4 Charles Ollivon, 5 Mickael Guillard; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Oscar Jegou, 8 Anthony Jelonch.

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Emmanual Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Kalvin Gourgues.

The injuries have piled up for Ireland as there is no Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, Mack Hansen or Robbie Henshaw available this week. With a number of props missing, Jeremy Loughman and Thomas Clarkson are given the chance to start. Jacob Stockdale has been given the nod to start on the wing ahead of James Lowe. Sam Prendergast has earned the nod to start at fly-half. Head coach Andy Farrell has opted for a six-two forwards-backs split on the bench.

Ireland starting XV: 15 Jamie Osborne; 14 Tommy O’Brien; 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey; 11 Jacob Stockdale; 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Thomas Clarkson; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Cian Prendergast, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (captain).

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Craig Casey, 23 Jack Crowley.