France vs Ireland preview: What time does it start, what channel is it on and where can I watch it?

A look ahead to the Six Nations encounter at the Stade de France

Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien returns from injury (Getty Images)

A rematch of the Pool D decider from last year’s World Cup gives France a chance of revenge after their 9-24 defeat by Ireland.

It’s a big game for…

Jonathan Danty. Danty played an excellent game against Italy, but Ireland is a completely different kettle of fish. With competition from Robbie Henshaw, Danty will need to show off some more of the skill which allowed him to replace the forceful Wesley Fofana. The freshly capped centre will need to front up if he is to break past the new challenge.

Teams...

France: M Medard (Toulouse); T Thomas (Racing 92), M Mermoz (Toulon), J Danty (Stade Francais), V Vakatawa (French Rugby Federation); J Plisson (Stade Francais), S Bezy (Toulouse); J Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), G Guirado (Toulon, capt), U Atonio (La Rochelle), A Flanquart (Stade Francais), Y Maestri (Toulouse), W Lauret (Racing 92), Y Camara (Toulouse), D Chouly (Clermont Auvergne).

Replacements: C Chat (Racing 92), R Slimani (Stade Francais), E Ben Arous (Racing 92), P Jedrasiak (Clermont Auvergne), L Goujon (Bordeaux-Begles), M Machenaud (Racing 92), J-M Doussain (Toulouse), H Bonneval (Stade Francais).

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); A Trimble (Ulster), J Payne (Ulster), R Henshaw (Connacht), D Kearney (Leinster); J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster, capt), N White (Connacht), M McCarthy (Leinster), D Toner (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), S O'Brien (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster).

Replacements: R Strauss (Leinster), J Cronin (Munster), T Furlong (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), T O'Donnell (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster), I Madigan (Leinster), F McFadden (Leinster).

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa).

Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales) and Stuart Berry (South Africa)

Captain Comparison

Name Guilhem Guirado. Rory Best

Position Hooker Hooker

Club Toulon Ulster

Caps (As captain) 39 (1) 90 (5)

Points scored 10 40

Remember when…

O’Brien punched Pape and got Man of the Match?

In October last year, during the Pool D match at the Millenium Stadium, Sean O’Brien appeared to strike Pascal Pape in the stomach in the first minute of the match. Pape lay prone following the injury but continued to play on.

Weird stat…

1111 – This is the number of points France have conceded against Ireland in their 106 year competitive history. This includes a 4-3 victory against an Ireland XV in January of 1946 and features 95 matches.

Up and coming...

C.J. Stander: The South African born number 8 hales from the town of George and moved to Munster, after gaining 10 BabyBoks caps. The 25 year old took the Munster captaincy this season, following an injury to Peter O’Mahony. He became eligible for his adopted nation after the World Cup final and was immediately put to use in last week’s draw against Wales, ending as Man of the Match.

Past three-meetings…

Ireland 24 (Kearney, Murray) – France 9 October 2015, Rugby World Cup Pool D

Ireland 18 – France 11 (Taofifenua) February 2015 Six Nations

France 20 (Dulin, Szarzewski) – Ireland 22 (Sexton (2), Trimble) March 2014 Six Nations

Form guide…

France: WLLWWW

Ireland: DLWWWW

TV...

When and where: 14.25 Saturday February 13^th, BBC1