Six Nations: No Lowe or Furlong for Ireland but revitalised Stockdale 'buzzing' for Paris

Andy Farrell has rewarded patience and hard work in his selection of an injury-hit Ireland squad to face France in a daunting Six Nations opener at Stade de France on Thursday night.

Fresh opportunities for Jeremy Loughman at loosehead prop and left wing Jacob Stockdale in the starting XV against the defending champions have come after several involvements in Ireland camps without reward and the pair were two of seven changes made by the head coach from the final outing of 2025, a 24-13 defeat at home to South Africa that was far more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

The other changes see Cian Prendergast at blindside flanker to start alongside fly-half brother Sam for the first time, fit-again duo Jamie Osborne at full-back and Joe McCarthy in the second row, Thomas Clarkson starting at tighthead prop and Stuart McCloskey back in at inside centre.

Four of Farrell’s changes are injury-enforced, including Prendergast replacing Ryan Baird, and Clarkson in for Tadhg Furlong, for whom this opening fixture has come a week too soon following a calf injury. 

Loughman earns his sixth Test cap and a first since 2024 after the withdrawals of three loosehead props, Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle, with the 30-year-old backed up by Munster team-mate Mikey Milne for a potential third Ireland appearance following a debut against Georgia last summer and then Portugal on the same tour.

Osborne fills the vacuum created by injuries to both Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen, while Stuart McCloskey comes in at inside centre for the suspended Bundee Aki, McCarthy is preferred to James Ryan, who drops to the bench and Stockdale gets the nod ahead of regular starter James Lowe.

“He's back to being himself this year, that's for sure,” Farrell said of the in-form Stockdale, set to win his 41st cap. 

“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.” 

Farrell said Stockdale was buzzing to get his opportunity “like a good few others as well.

“Like Jeremy Loughman, for example. Everyone who doesn't get a chance or drops out of the squad is always trying to fight to get back in and be fought hard enough to earn the right to take responsibility in the big game. 

"That's the Six Nations, the opening game, which is here in Paris.

"So it doesn't really get any bigger than that. It's a fantastic opportunity, isn't it?"

Ireland have switched to a 6:2 split between forwards and backs for Stade de France, with Nick Timoney adding back-five ballast alongside James Ryan and Jack Conan while the backline positions are covered by Munster duo Craig Casey and Jack Crowley.

An expected involvement for Munster’s uncapped lock Edwin Edogbo has not materialised despite good reviews from his first Ireland training camp in Portugal last week and Farrell insisted the 23-year-old’s experience would stand to him after missing out in November due to injury.

“He's still learning. You know, letting people taste the environment. We like to get people into the environment as soon as we possibly can to get the experience. 

"And obviously Edwin missed that and there's an art to be able to get up to speed as far as international rugby is concerned and it would have been a fantastic week for him as far as that's concerned.

“So he's had a great week. He's had a great week. He's still finding his feet like a few others.” 

On Furlong’s omission, Farrell said he expected the veteran tighthead to pass fit to face Italy in Dublin on Saturday week.

“I think the right thing to do with Tadhg, for us and for him, is understand what the history has told us and to push and push hard for this game could have meant that we end up with an egg in our face on both sides in regards to the rest of the competition.

“So we expect Tadhg to be fully fit for the week after.” 

Caelan Doris once again captains the side from No.8 with head coach Farrell naming Cian Prendergast at blindside flanker in the absence of injured Ryan Baird while Josh van der Flier continues at openside flanker.

Dan Sheehan retains the hooker’s jersey but Tadhg Furlong’s bid to pass fit following a calf injury has come up short and Thomas Clarkson gets to start at tighthead prop for his 10th cap having made his Six Nations debut off the bench against England in 2025’s first round. 

“The Six Nations is an amazing tournament to compete in and it brings out the best in players. We have played at the Stade de France many times and it's a terrific stadium with an incredible atmosphere. We know from our experiences on the road how proud and vocal the travelling Irish support can be and it's a huge motivator for the squad knowing that we have so many Irish supporters behind us."

IRELAND (v France): Jamie Osborne (Leinster); Tommy O’Brien (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster); Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt) 

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster).

France: T Ramos; T Attissogbe, N Depoortere, Y Moefana, L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, A Dupont (capt); J Gros, J Marchand, D Aldegheri, C Ollivon, M Guillard, F Cros, O Jegou, A Jelonch.

Replacements: P Mauvaka, R Neti, R Montagne, H Auradou, E Meafou, L Nouchi, B Serin, K Gourgues.