Fit-again Dupont ready to roll against Ireland in Paris 

The France talisman has been named in the XV to face Andy Farrell's side in the tournament curtain-raiser.

IN FOCUS: Les Bleus are boosted by the return of captain Antoine Dupont after a serious knee injury curtailed his involvement last year. Pic: Steve Welsh/PA Wire.

Star France scrum-half Antoine Dupont will face Ireland in the Six Nations opener on Thursday, after head coach Fabien Galthie named him in the team as captain on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old has not played for Les Bleus since tearing his cruciate knee ligament against the same opposition in March during last year’s tournament.

Elsewhere, Anthony Jelonch is named at No 8 with La Rochell's Gregory Alldritt out from the squad. Theo Attissogbe gets the nod at right wing while Matthieu Jalbert will start at out-half.

Andy Farrell showed his hand earlier on Tuesday, revealing his starting XV in Paris. 

FRANCE (v Ireland): Thomas Ramos (Toulouse); Theo Attissogbe (Pau), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux-Begles), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Begles), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), Antoine Dupont (Toulouse – capt); Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Mickael Guillard (Lyon), Francois Cros (Toulouse), Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse) 

Replacements: Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse), Regis Montagne (Clermont), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier), Baptiste Serin (Toulon), Kalvin Gourgues (Toulouse)