Ireland vs France Prediction: Les Bleus can upset Aviva party

With a trip to Rome in the final round, Ireland know a win over France on Saturday (14:15, ITV1) will all but seal their third successive Six Nations title and a second Grand Slam in three years. After outclassing England and Scotland in the first fortnight, a much-changed team did enough to overcome an inspired Wales 27-18 in the middle batch of fixtures.

France beat Wales but lost to England. However, they roared back by smashing Italy 73-24 and Fabien Galthie has repeated his 'Le Bomb Squad' experiment by picking seven forwards on the bench. A victory will bring Les Bleus back into the Championship reckoning and, on an emotional afternoon as three Irish greats play their final international games in Dublin, French power could upset the celebrations.

Rugby Union Odds

Team News

Peter O'Mahony starts at blindside flanker in his final Ireland appearance in Dublin, while prop Cian Healy and scrum-half Conor Murray will also play in their last home matches off the bench.

Number eight Caelan Doris returns to captain the team on the occasion of his 50th cap, while tighthead prop Finlay Bealham and replacement back-rower Jack Conan will also make it to half a century.

They are part of a six-two split among the replacements, while France have gone with just one back on their bench in scrum-half Maxime Lucu.

Romain Ntamack is restored at number 10 and Damian Penaud returns on the wing. Lock Emmanuel Meafou comes into the pack.

Ireland vs France Odds

Ireland are 5/6 to make it four from four in the tournament, with the tie 18/1 and France 21/20 to end the hosts' 10-game unbeaten home run in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium.

France to win @ 21/20 

With the three Irish greats representing their country for the last time in Dublin and talk of a Grand Slam and an unprecedented third straight Six Nations crown in the offing, emotions are expected to run high at the Aviva.

Interim coach Simon Easterby has excelled in Andy Farrell's absence but there is a certain deja vu about this game.

It feels reminiscent of last year's Six Nations meeting between the teams when France flopped at a packed-out Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

Ireland are unlikely to choke as their opponents did that evening but with Galthie's job potentially on the line should his side lose, Les Bleus could produce a gargantuan performance and break Irish hearts.

Much will depend on whether their bench gamble pays off, but they look to have a size advantage up front, while if prop Uini Atonio gets the upper hand on Andrew Porter at scrum time, they could build an unassailable lead.

Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey anytime tryscorer double @ 4.2/1

Penaud was scapegoated for the England defeat, losing his spot against Italy after the coaching staff blamed his defensive lapses for letting the Red Rose back into the game.

However, the 28-year-old still scored a try and has three career tries against the Irish, making him worth including in a tryscoring double alongside Bordeaux colleague Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

France's other wing already has five tries for the 2025 Six Nations and, with Mack Hansen injured, faces a relative rookie in Jamie Osborne.

Osborne has played most of his rugby for both Leinster and Ireland at full-back or in the centres and could be caught out.

Offers

Double Delight: Get double your odds if your winning First Tryscorer bet goes on to score another try in the 6 Nations!

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