Injuries, retirements and a suspension have all dealt Andy Farrell a depleted hand approaching Ireland’s 2026 Guinness Six Nations campaign, but the head coach is relishing the challenge and the potential lessons to be learned from his new-look team to face France on Thursday night. "You look at the lads that aren't playing, the experience that they're getting, it's all new to them, but they're finding the feet within all that. Head coach Andy Farrell speaks to the press including the Irish Examiner's Simon Lewis. That's the aim.”IRELAND: J Osborne (Leinster); T O’Brien (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Stockdale (Ulster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); J Loughman (Munster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster); J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster); C Prendergast (Connacht), J van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster) - captain. Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), M Milne (Munster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster), N Timoney (Ulster), C Casey (Munster), J Crowley (Munster).

Source: Irish Examiner February 04, 2026 14:30 UTC