PREVIEW: New Zealand v France
JUNE SPOTLIGHT: Coach Steve Hansen has named two fullbacks in the All Blacks side to play France on Saturday, letting Les Bleus know he has worked out their plans and has them covered.
Jordie Barrett will start in the No.15 jersey, for his third Test, with regular custodian Ben Smith moving to the right wing while Rieko Ioane occupies the left.
Jordie Barrett, one of three Barrett brothers in the run-on side, “has some aerial skills that we’re looking for and we think both he and Ben Smith give us a really good aerial back three”, Hansen said after naming his side.
“They’re world class and of course Rieko picks himself.”
Questioned whether an aerial game was what the All Blacks wanted or expected from the French, he said: “A bit of both.”
Hansen added that the balance of the French side suggested they would also attack with their big ball runners led by skipper Mathieu Bastareaud.
“They’ve made him captain to try and inspire him to lead the group. I think he will play with his heart on his sleeve and that will make him really dangerous. He’s a big man who will take a fair bit of stopping,” he said.
“Defensively, our game plan won’t change. We’re going to have to get up in their face and mow them over.
“You can’t be over confident, that’s when you get a smack on the chops, but I’m reasonably happy with where we’re at.”
French coach Jacques Brunel did not express the same confidence when naming his side, which included a recall for Morgan Parra, whose last Test was three years ago, and nine other players who missed this year’s Six Nations.
“I don’t know if there is ever an easy match against the All Blacks,” Brunel said.
“During the Six Nations we were close against Ireland and England. Here, we are playing against the best team in the world.”
France beat England in the Northern Hemisphere championship and only a last-gasp drop goal by Jonny Sexton denied them a win over eventual champions Ireland.
To win in New Zealand would be a “masterstroke”, Brunel said.
“We are playing the best and it will be interesting to see how close we are to them,” he added.
“Defence is easier than attack and I hope we’ll be able to rely on it.
“But we can’t only be good in defence, we need something else. In the first week, it’s a bit difficult to work on attack so we have only done simple stuff. I don’t know if it will work.”
With a rush defence now the weapon of choice for international teams playing the All Blacks, Hansen has been working on new attack plans and expressed a quiet confidence they would be successful.
“Interestingly the French come fast and then they push off and that makes them even more dangerous. They give the appearance they’re in your face but their bodies are turned out and they’re looking to cover more space,” he said.
“They give you a lot of fool’s gold out wide so we have to be smart about what we do with it.”
In their opening Test of the year, the All Blacks are defending a 40-match unbeaten run at their Eden Park fortress.
The last time they lost in Auckland was to France, 20-23 in 1994, and they narrowly survived against Les Bleus 8-7 in the 2011 World Cup Final.
Players to watch:
For New Zealand: Wing Rieko Ioane is the world’s best finisher and he will exploit any space out wide. The midfield of Ryan Crotty and Anton Lienert-Brown will be a handful. Crotty has the experience and makes good decisions in the No.12 jersey, while Lienert-Brown has plenty of skills and speed to unlock defences. Flank Liam Squire is a powerful ball runner, while hooker Codie Taylor is abrasive and aggressive on attack and on defence.
For France: Wing Teddy Thomas has the pace and power to trouble New Zealand, while a lot rests on flyhalf Anthony Belleau’s shoulders to dictate play. Experienced scrumhalf Morgan Parra is back and will help take some of the pressure of his halfback partner. Prop Uini Atonio is a big and powerful man in the front row, while, lock Yoann Maestri will have an important role in helping his team get over the gain line and dominating the set pieces.
Head to head: Anton Lienert-Brown and Mathieu Bastareaud are two very different No.13’s. It will be a clash of styles between the two out wide. We also have two world-class wings against each other in the form of Teddy Thomas and Rieko Ioane. The scrums will also be intriguing with the big trio of Uini Atonio, Camille Chat and Dany Priso up against the all-Crusaders front row of Owen Franks, Codie Taylor and Joe Moody.
Recent results:
2017: New Zealand won 38-18, Paris
2016: New Zealand won 24-19, Paris
2015: New Zealand won 62-13, Cardiff (World Cup quarterfinal)
2013: New Zealand won 26-19, Paris
2013: New Zealand won 24-9, New Plymouth
2013: New Zealand won 30-0, Christchurch
2013: New Zealand won 23-13, Auckland
2011: New Zealand won 8-7, Auckland (World Cup Final)
2011: New Zealand won 37-17, Auckland (World Cup pool match)
2009: New Zealand won 39-12, Marseille
Prediction: The All Blacks are the clear favourites for this match. There might be a bit of rustiness, but Steve Hansen’s side should have enough to win comfortably. However, France always a difficult team to break down and they are almost certain to employ a rush defence. In the end, we think New Zealand will win it by 12 points.
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Thomas Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Ngani Laumape.
France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud (captain), 12 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 11 Remy Grosso, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fabien Sanconnie, 7 Kelian Gourdon, 6 Judicael Cancoriet, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Uini Atonio,2 Camille Chat, 1 Dany Priso.
Replacements: 16 Adrien Pelissie, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Bernard Le Roux, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Gael Fickou.
Date: Saturday, June 9
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT, 09.35 France time)
Expected weather: There will be a temperature of around 9°C around kick-off time with a slight breeze. It will be clear with no rain expected.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), John Lacey (Ireland)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
AFP & @rugby365com
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