Get Newsletter

All Blacks roll out big guns against depleted France

The matchday 23 have 789 Tests worth of experience, with the All Blacks needing to score only three tries to become the first side to record 2000 Test tries. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Only six players who started in the northern tour opener against the Barbarians last week have retained their places as the 107-Test Read heads a huge injection of experience to face Les Bleus. 

Hansen said he was leaving nothing to chance despite France seemingly in a state of chaos with multiple players injured, and a dismal record of only three wins from eight Tests this year.

France wing Yoann Huget has rated his side's chance of winning at 10 percent, but Hansen was taking no notice of such pessimism.

"France are an exciting team and playing France in Paris is one of the biggest challenges in rugby," he said when naming the side on Thursday. 

Along with Read, Dane Coles (55 Tests), Sam Whitelock (93), Aaron Smith (68), Sonny Bill Williams (43), Ryan Crotty (32), Damian McKenzie (9), Rieko Ioane (10) and Sam Cane (50) return to the run-on side. 

Cane made a second-half appearance off the bench when the All Blacks beat the Barbarians 31-22 while the other eight had the week off. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Vaea Fifita, who impressed against the Barbarians, retains his place on the side of the scrum with Liam Squire not considered because of illness and Jerome Kaino returning home injured.

Hansen said the 34-year-old Kaino's posterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in the Barbarians match came with a six-week recovery time.

"It's not the end of his Test career at this point. He's got to go home and do what everyone else does and play well in the Super season and then we'll start again," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Left-wing flyer Ioane, with nine tries from 10 Tests, has shaken off a bout of the mumps to return to the line-up. 

On the bench, Wyatt Crockett and Matt Todd return to provide loosehead prop and loose forward cover.

"This weekend is another opportunity for us to continue growing our standards, our game and our skill sets," Hansen said.  

"If we can do that and put in a complete 80-minute game we'll go a long way to putting in a performance we can all be proud of. 

"Having said that, France are an exciting team and playing France in Paris is one of the biggest challenges in rugby."

The All Blacks have played France 57 times with 44 wins, a draw and 12 losses. 

The last time they met, in Paris last year, New Zealand won 24-19.

The All Blacks will be looking to post a new Test try-scoring benchmark of 2000 in their 564th Test.

France are the second most prolific try-scoring team with 1708 from 740 Tests followed by Australia with 1616 in 615 Tests.

New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Kane Hames.

Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Thomas Perenara, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.

Date: Saturday, November 11

Venue: Stade de France, Paris

Kick-off: 20.45 (19.45 GMT; 08.45 NZ Time, Sunday, November 12)

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Tom Foley (England)

TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

Agence France-Presse

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment