Six Nations 2024 LIVE: France v Ireland build-up plus England, Wales and Scotland team news – Yahoo Sports | Maqvi News

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The Six Nations returns tonight with France hosting Ireland, who hope to defend their Grand Slam crown and put a devastating Rugby World Cup behind them in a tantalising contest in Marseille.

The start of a new cycle has seen significant change in the six competing unions after a thrilling Rugby World Cup in France.

While England salvaged respect with their run to the semi-finals, a start against Italy provides Steve Borthwick with an opportunity to be creative and look to the future. The Azzurri begin life under Gonzalo Quesada after a post-tournament coaching changes.

Wales and Scotland will be hoping to build momentum to start a new era amind change in what promises to be a fascinating edition of one of rugby’s most storied championships. Follow all the build-up to tonight’s action in Marseille below. Get the latest Six Nations odds and tips here.

Six Nations 2024: France v Ireland

Kick-off in Marseille at 8pm GMT
Evolving Six Nations brings opportunity for all – but one certainty remains
How Ireland can cure World Cup hangover and fill Johnny Sexton void
Six Nations 2024 predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more
England’s ‘authentic’ leader fronts Six Nations plan to replace Owen Farrell

Zombie: Why Ireland’s rugby anthem is causing controversy

11:50 , Jack Rathborn

Ireland‘s rugby fans have adopted the Cranberries’ 1994 hit ‘Zombie’ as an unofficial anthem – firstly at last year’s Rugby World Cup and likely at this spring’s Six Nations – but that decision has caused controversy.

During the World Cup, where Ireland topped their group before agonisingly losing a thrilling quarter-final to New Zealand as their unwanted record of never winning a knockout match at the tournament continued, ‘Zombie would blast out of stadium PA systems following the full-time whistle.

This is what happened following their brilliant 13-8 win over reigning champions South Africa in the pool stage of the tournament, as fans sung along with the anthem to create a spine-tingling moment.

Zombie: Why Ireland’s rugby anthem is causing controversy

Six Nations 2024 predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more

11:35 , Jack Rathborn

Breakthrough star

LB: If Chandler Cunningham-South or Ethan Roots get a run-out for England, they can cause serious damage with their destructive ball-carrying, but it’s another back row, Scotland’s Andy Christie, who I’m backing to make an impact. The Saracens star has a handful of international caps but missed the World Cup with a broken arm and is only now getting back to his best. There’s competition in Scotland’s back row but Christie is a powerful carrier, expert chop-tackler and his string of man-of-the-match displays for Sarries show the impact he can have.

HLC: Emmanuel Meafou. An injury looks likely to delay Meafou’s long-awaited France debut, but the giant second row is already one of the best players in Europe and should boost Fabien Galthie’s tight five when back fit. Dextrous, dynamic and destructive, Meafou is a mountain of a man but it is his softer touches that stand out, a fine offloading game supported by real breakdown acumen.

Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more

Gregor Townsend happy to deny Wales advantage by keeping stadium roof open

11:20 , Jack Rathborn

Gregor Townsend has defended Scotland’s decision to keep the Principality Stadium roof open for their Guinness Six Nations opener in Cardiff.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland called the decision “disappointing”, saying it would impact upon the atmosphere and noise in the 74,500-capacity stadium.

Tournament regulations say both sides must agree to have the roof closed.

Scotland head coach Townsend said: “I thought we had 48 hours to decide, but they said on Wednesday you have to come to a decision.

Gregor Townsend happy to deny Wales advantage by keeping stadium roof open

Six Nations 2024 predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more

11:05 , Jack Rathborn

Player of the tournament

LB: Hugo Keenan can cement his spot as the best fullback in the world with another dominant championship but it’s another Ireland star, No 8 Caelan Doris who can have the biggest impact for the team I’ve picked to win the tournament. With Antoine Dupont, the man who has been the official player of the championship for three of the past four years, missing this time around, the opportunity is there for a world-class, game-destroying presence such as Doris to jackal, carry and pass his way to the award.

HLC: If England do secure a surprise crown, Maro Itoje will have been at the heart of it. The lock has been back to somewhere near his best for Saracens this season after an excellent, if under-the-radar, World Cup. Additional leadership responsibilities should suit a player who, at 29, looks set to peak again.

Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more

Six Nations 2024 schedule in full: Fixtures, kick-off times and results

10:50 , Jack Rathborn

The Six Nations returns with Ireland hoping to defend their Grand Slam crown as they open up their campaign against France.

The start of a new cycle has seen significant change in the six competing unions since a thrilling Rugby World Cup in France.

England, Ireland, Wales and France are all likely to have new captains at the helm, while Italy begin life under Gonzalo Quesada after a post-tournament coaching changes.

Scotland will be hoping to build on a third-placed finish a year ago in what looks to be an open edition of one of rugby’s most storied championships.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Six Nations 2024: Fixtures, schedule, kick-off times and results

Six Nations 2024 predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more

10:41 , Jack Rathborn

Winner

Luke Baker: The Six Nations could be all over after just 80 minutes of play… Of course, this is an exaggeration but France v Ireland on the opening night, Friday 2 February, in Marseille sees the two best teams going head to head to kick off the competition. The previous two editions of the Six Nations have seen the winner of this game lift the trophy, while the loser has ultimately finished second with an otherwise perfect record and it’s up to the other four countries to show us this won’t just happen again. Les Bleus (Antoine Dupont) and the men in green (Johnny Sexton) have both lost their talisman since the World Cup but their squads are still a cut above the rest, even with those questions to answer. The home side normally wins this fixture, yet France’s injury worries lead me to believe that the relentless green machine Andy Farrell has created can nab a win on the road en route to the title.

Harry Latham-Coyle: The opening game feels like a de facto decider, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that England might just nick it. It’s a kind start for Steve Borthwick’s side, who should take care of business in Rome and against Wales at Twickenham, while it feels like they are overdue a positive Calcutta Cup performance. That would give them belief and bite heading into an encounter with Ireland and a trip to Lyon – win one of the two and secure a bonus point in the other, and that might be enough.

Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more

How Ireland can cure World Cup hangover and fill Johnny Sexton void

10:27 , Jack Rathborn

The hangover has lasted for four months, fractured snapshots of those Parisian nights coming crashing back into heads still aching with the foggy recollections of a golden chance missed.

For France and Ireland, the tales of the autumn were strikingly similar, so close; so far – two World Cup adventures set up for success prematurely ended by a single score. A bounce of a ball, a flip of a coin, a perfectly timed Cheslin Kolbe charge-down or Sam Whitelock jackal: for a third men’s World Cup in a row, France and Ireland’s final fortnight was spent as spectators.

These two were the defining sides of the last World Cup cycle, meticulously constructing a contender in the hopes of ending their tournament hoodoo. France coach Fabien Galthie and Andy Farrell, his Irish counterpart, identified areas in need of improvement and duly improved them, bringing through key personnel and developing depth. They entered, and exited, the World Cup with few apparent weaknesses; either would have been a worthy winner.

How Ireland can cure World Cup hangover and fill Johnny Sexton void

Evolving Six Nations brings opportunity for all – but one certainty remains

10:26 , Jack Rathborn

Perhaps not since the Springtime of the Peoples in 1848 has this time of year promised such significant change across Europe. The Six Nations arrives with transformative winds blowing; never before has this tournament been defined as much by those absent as present.

The start of a new World Cup cycle is always a time of recasting but this has been a dramatic winter of abdications and coronations. Five of the six competing nations will be under new captains, Jamie George, Peter O’Mahony, Finn Russell and Gregory Alldritt are familiar faces; Dafydd Jenkins and Rory Darge rather less so.

Four of the fly halves who ended last year’s competition as their nation’s first-choice option are absent. In the past year, the record men’s cap-holders for England, Wales and Italy have entered international retirement, and several more centurions have laid down their shields.