France vs All Blacks

[Gumboot]

Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Local: 9:10pm, Saturday 16 Nov
NZ: 9:10am, Sunday 17 Nov

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

[Jethro]

Can Razor clean sweep the end of year tour, oh hell yeah, the cheese eating surrender monkeys next on the AB hit list

[Enzedder]

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Oh shit. This will not end well. At least we know what he calls so should be able to plan for it.

[OomStruisbaai]

All Blacks to win this. France still have WC blues.

[Sards]

And then there is the best player in the world to contend with..................Du Pont

[ASMO]

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Oh shit. This will not end well. At least we know what he calls so should be able to plan for it.

Don't know what you are moaning about, he is a brilliant referee.

[Grandpa]

And then there is the best player in the world to contend with..................Du Pont

Very true. If he plays well, France play well.

[Sards]

And then there is the best player in the world to contend with..................Du Pont

Very true. If he plays well, France play well.

ABs will have to close him down

[Torquemada 1420]

All Blacks to win this. France still have WC blues.

I think they will edge it too. Partly because the ABs are battle hardened now whereas a training game against a poor Japan side is inadequate preparation. Also,
- Ramos is not a FH but Jalibert was horrible when he came on.
- Alldritt is having a penalty give away fest which is in keeping with the drop in form of everyone associated with LaR
2 critical positions.

Beyond that, Moefana remains a waste of space. Penaud is injured, yet again although I really rate Attisogbe. So much so, that I'd be tempted to play the Pau man on the wing and move Penaud into centre if both fit,

[Torquemada 1420]

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Oh shit. This will not end well. At least we know what he calls so should be able to plan for it.

Don't know what you are moaning about, he is a brilliant referee.

This. I think he is one of the best 2 in the game.

[OomStruisbaai]

All Blacks to win this. France still have WC blues.

I think they will edge it too. Partly because the ABs are battle hardened now whereas a training game against a poor Japan side is inadequate preparation. Also,
- Ramos is not a FH but Jalibert was horrible when he came on.
- Alldritt is having a penalty give away fest which is in keeping with the drop in form of everyone associated with LaR
2 critical positions.

Beyond that, Moefana remains a waste of space. Penaud is injured, yet again although I really rate Attisogbe. So much so, that I'd be tempted to play the Pau man on the wing and move Penaud into centre if both fit,

French scrum and depth?

[Enzedder]

Oh shit. This will not end well. At least we know what he calls so should be able to plan for it.

Don't know what you are moaning about, he is a brilliant referee.

This. I think he is one of the best 2 in the game.

I don't. He had a test in the RC this year and left us all bemused.

Still - we know him a bit better now

[Gumboot]

Don't imagine Razor will stray far from last week's starters. If Cane's out, will he move Ardie to 7 and Sititi to 8? Are Blackadder and Papali'i with the team yet... maybe one of those two could get openside?

Apart from that, will there be any other changes? Taylor or Aumua? Williams or de Groot? Ratima or Roigard? DMac or Beauden?

[Gumboot]

Former captain Sam Cane's All Blacks career could be over after he and winger Mark Tele'a were ruled out of this weekend's test against France in Paris.

Flanker Cane suffered a deep cut to his head which required multiple stitches in last Saturday's win over Ireland, while Tele'a picked up a hand injury.

Hurricanes loose forward and All Blacks XV captain Du'Plessis Kirifi and Crusaders back Chay Fihaki have been called into the squad as has lock Fabian Holland with the latter replacing Sam Darry who suffered a season-ending knee injury in training.

AJ Lam replaced Harry Plummer (minor leg injury) last week, as cover for Billy Proctor.

There is some good news though with Codie Taylor and first-five Beauden Barrett, who missed the Ireland game due to concussion, both tracking well to be available.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/533525 ... ith-france

So probably Reece straight back in for Tele'a, but who's going to replace Cane? It won't happen, but I'd love to see how Lakai would go at 7.

[laurent]

Likely French team
La composition probable des Bleus : 15. Buros ; 14. Villière, 13. Fickou, 12. Moefana, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Ramos, 9. Dupont (cap.) ; 7. Roumat, 8. Alldritt, 6. Boudehent ; 5. Meafou, 4. Flament ou Ollivon ; 3. Tatafu, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Gros

Remplaçants : 16. Marchand, 17. Wardi, 18. Colombe, 19. R. Taofifenua, 20. Guillard, 21. Ollivon ou Woki, 22. Le Garrec, 23. Barré ou Jalibert ou Gailleton.

[Torquemada 1420]

All Blacks to win this. France still have WC blues.

I think they will edge it too. Partly because the ABs are battle hardened now whereas a training game against a poor Japan side is inadequate preparation. Also,
- Ramos is not a FH but Jalibert was horrible when he came on.
- Alldritt is having a penalty give away fest which is in keeping with the drop in form of everyone associated with LaR
2 critical positions.

Beyond that, Moefana remains a waste of space. Penaud is injured, yet again although I really rate Attisogbe. So much so, that I'd be tempted to play the Pau man on the wing and move Penaud into centre if both fit,

French scrum and depth?

Scrum should hold its own. I don't know much about Tatafu: he's a big lad who's down as a backrower! Mauvaka and Marchand are arguably the best 2 hookers in the world.

[Torquemada 1420]

Likely French team
La composition probable des Bleus : 15. Buros ; 14. Villière, 13. Fickou, 12. Moefana, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Ramos, 9. Dupont (cap.) ; 7. Roumat, 8. Alldritt, 6. Boudehent ; 5. Meafou, 4. Flament ou Ollivon ; 3. Tatafu, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Gros

Remplaçants : 16. Marchand, 17. Wardi, 18. Colombe, 19. R. Taofifenua, 20. Guillard, 21. Ollivon ou Woki, 22. Le Garrec, 23. Barré ou Jalibert ou Gailleton.

Ollivon at lock is a bit wild.

[Marylandolorian]

Looks like galthié doesn’t like Jalibert, but Villiere is back.

15. Buros ; 14. Villière, 13. Fickou, 12. Moefana, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Ramos, 9. Dupont (cap.) ; 7. Roumat, 8. Alldritt, 6. Boudehent ; 5. Meafou, 4. Flament ; 3. Tatafu, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Gros
Remplaçants : 16. Marchand, 17. Wardi, 18. Colombe, 19. R. Taofifenua, 20. Guillard, 21. Ollivon, 22. Le Garrec, 23. Gailleton.

[Kiwias]

Sititi at 8 and Ardie at 7 is the big one, and BB over DMac.

[Slick]

I think this is my favourite fixture in rugby

[Stranger]

I think this is my favourite fixture in rugby

There have been some fantastic matches

[Kiwias]

We also get to see Pete Lakai in black. Really looking forward to seeing him play.

[laurent]

NZ by a 100

[Grandpa]

NZ by a 100

By half time...

[Guy Smiley]

Sititi at 8 and Ardie at 7 is the big one, and BB over DMac.

Plus Roigard starting...

a little unfair on DMac and Ratima, I reckon. DMac is being hailed as having his best game in black last week with an assured and measured performance. For my money, that improvement and discipline should be rewarded. Ratima was caught out with the Irish tactics and took too long to adapt... but the ref started penalising them and Roigard had time to look and learn before coming on. A minor quibble as I think we've all been waiting for Roigard to take the mantle.

I don't see the value of BB over DMac and it bothers me to think they are still trying to work out a pecking order here with one candidate a known pecker.

Edit... also, Finau starting at 6. You get a shot, you better make it pay.

[Gumboot]

Ethan "Food Bill" de Groot's indiscretion has proved to be very costly indeed.

[Sards]

This is the match I want to watch most. Love it that the ABs are sorting their shit out. Always nice to have a brother to help us fight our fights. We got you too Aus and the Argies

[Gumboot]

Always nice to have a brother to help us fight our fights.

WTF are you on about?

[Guy Smiley]

Ethan "Food Bill" de Groot's indiscretion has proved to be very costly indeed.

Ok... I don't know the story, what's all this?

[Gumboot]

Ethan "Food Bill" de Groot's indiscretion has proved to be very costly indeed.

Ok... I don't know the story, what's all this?

It's a secret, covered by the generic "didn't meet team standards" offence. He's apparently been available for selection since last week, but now can't get a look-in, so he's effectively been a passenger for the whole tour so far.

[Guy Smiley]

Ethan "Food Bill" de Groot's indiscretion has proved to be very costly indeed.

Ok... I don't know the story, what's all this?

It's a secret, covered by the generic "didn't meet team standards" offence. He's apparently been available for selection since last week, but now can't get a look-in, so he's effectively been a passenger for the whole tour so far.

Ah, gotcha. Stood down for a week and if anyone else performs, you've got your work cut out for you to get back in. I like that. I wish it applied to the 10 jersey.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

We've seen in the game the disappearance of the 6 in lieu of an extra lock, or arguably the vanishing of a centre in lieu of something that sort of passes for a flanker, but how many top games don't feature a 10 over the years?

[Gumboot]

All Blacks to play in their "away" kit of white jersey with black collar. At least it's not the dreaded grey.

[Guy Smiley]

We've seen in the game the disappearance of the 6 in lieu of an extra lock, or arguably the vanishing of a centre in lieu of something that sort of passes for a flanker, but how many top games don't feature a 10 over the years?

I'm not sure where you're coming from with this. No-one is proposing doing away with the 10, my comment was related to my personal view on who's worthy of it.

[Kiwias]

Sititi at 8 and Ardie at 7 is the big one, and BB over DMac.

Plus Roigard starting...

a little unfair on DMac and Ratima, I reckon. DMac is being hailed as having his best game in black last week with an assured and measured performance. For my money, that improvement and discipline should be rewarded. Ratima was caught out with the Irish tactics and took too long to adapt... but the ref started penalising them and Roigard had time to look and learn before coming on. A minor quibble as I think we've all been waiting for Roigard to take the mantle.

I don't see the value of BB over DMac and it bothers me to think they are still trying to work out a pecking order here with one candidate a known pecker.

Edit... also, Finau starting at 6. You get a shot, you better make it pay.

I am less worried about Ratima as I think we all know that Roigard is considered #1 and Ratima his very able deputy. Ratima will have learnt a lot from last week and will be on fire when he comes on the field this game. I too would have stuck with DMac, he played a very mature game last week.

[Kiwias]

Apparently Jalibert told the coach not to pick him in the match-day squad if he is not the starting 10.

https://apnews.com/article/france-all-b ... 703541a65a

[Enzedder]

Seems strange that two of our best players against Ireland have been relegated to the bench (and our worst player still makes the 23). I guess that's why he's the coach and I peck away at a keyboard like a hungry sparrow.

We'll lose this one though (not enough Chiefs)

[laurent]

Apparently Jalibert told the coach not to pick him in the match-day squad if he is not the starting 10.

https://apnews.com/article/france-all-b ... 703541a65a

He was not even on the bench (retained as 23rd)

[Kiwias]

Apparently Jalibert told the coach not to pick him in the match-day squad if he is not the starting 10.

https://apnews.com/article/france-all-b ... 703541a65a

He was not even on the bench (retained as 23rd)

He refused to be on the bench, apparently.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

We've seen in the game the disappearance of the 6 in lieu of an extra lock, or arguably the vanishing of a centre in lieu of something that sort of passes for a flanker, but how many top games don't feature a 10 over the years?

I'm not sure where you're coming from with this. No-one is proposing doing away with the 10, my comment was related to my personal view on who's worthy of it.

More that neither side is naming anyone that actually plays as a 10. They really do their own thing mixed with some lack of notion of what to do