Ireland’s French test a game ‘you live for’ – Hansen

The Ireland squad is looking forward to welcoming France to Dublin for Saturday’s highly anticipated Six Nations game (14:15 GMT), according to Wing Mack Hansen.

The hosts are aiming for a historic third straight title in succession and are the top scorers in the championship standings with 14 points, three more than the French.

In addition to being Ireland’s final home Test for retiring centurions Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, and Cian Healy, the pair have developed a fierce rivalry in recent seasons, finishing first and second in each of the previous three Six Nations campaigns.

“One to 23 players are world-class players. We’re looking forward to it, and it’s a big challenge, Hansen said.

Being able to send some guys off with their final home game and put a stamp on the Six Nations, is what you’re looking for.

“I think we’re up for the challenge,” he said.

The Connacht squad knew this would be Murray, Healy, and O’Mahony’s final Six Nations before the announcement, and they have made an effort to make “this entire campaign special” for the trio. The 26-year-old Connacht player, who signed a new contract this week through 2027, added.

They make up the team’s major component. They have a lot of experience both on and off the field, as we have discussed earlier. They make for a lot of craic, laughter, and good times.

More important is making it as unique for them as possible throughout the campaign, she said.

Tadhg Furlong, a tight-head prop, has calf and hamstring issues that prevented him from playing since Leinster beat La Rochelle on January 12 but he did in a scrum session on Tuesday.

The team’s scrum coach, John Fogarty, predicted that Wednesday’s session would be the “big day” to determine the 32-year-old’s availability to face Les Bleus.

“It was nice to see Tadhg in a scrum, especially one that was fully contested,” said Fogarty.