Andy Farrell Team Announcement Press Conference

Andy Farrell has named the Ireland team to play France in the opening game of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations which includes a starting berth for Cian Prendergast and Jacob Stockdale.

Speaking about Stockdale’s return to the tournament, for the first time since 2021, Farrell commented, “He’s back to being himself this year, that’s for sure. I think if you speak to him, he’d be delighted that he’s just simplified things and got down to what he’s good at, and that’s beating people. And we’ve seen that plenty, certainly this season.”

Asked about Prendergast’s inclusion the head coach said, “We feel he’s matured a lot. The captaincy is certainly helping him at Connacht as well, taking the responsibility away from himself and being able to channel his thoughts in another way has certainly matured him as a player, that’s for sure.

“We were delighted with how he took his chance in the autumn, because he’s another one who’s been waiting for a big moment.”

Ireland (v France)

15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(10)
14. Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College/Leinster)(6)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(69)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(23)
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(40)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(46)

1. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(5)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(35)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(10)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(65)
6. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(8)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(75)
8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)(55)(captain)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(43)
17. Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)(2)
18. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(54)
19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(76)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(55)
21. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(6)
22. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(24)
23. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(30).