France v New Zealand - teams and prediction

PRVIEW: Fabien Galthie’s France welcome in-form New Zealand on Saturday to Paris with the hosts hoping to build on the victories they chalked up in the their two most recent meetings with the All Blacks.

The French hammered them on a cold November evening in 2021 before taking the spoils in last year’s rip-roaring World Cup opener, both at a packed Stade de France.

New Zealand enjoyed a 14-match winning streak stretching back to 2009 before those two defeats. They are now coached by Scott Robertson, who has steadied the ship in recent weeks after a slow start to his tenure.

Three straight wins over Japan, England, and Ireland over the past month come after an unconvincing June tour and Rugby Championship campaign.

Galthie has yet to taste defeat as coach against the All Blacks, with France one win away from their best-ever run of three victories against the three-time World Cup winners, claimed in 1994 and 1995.

“It’s been a while since we’ve played this standard of All Blacks,” Galthie told reporters.

“The challenge is immense for us as a team but at the same time fantastic,” he added.

Galthie’s side began their November internationals campaign with an easy win over Japan last Saturday, scoring eight tries against a lacklustre outfit.

“Their DNA is that they like to play,” Robertson said.

“They’re a very instinctive team. They’ve got a balance of French flair and also high discipline.

“They have some stars there that can punish you with their feet.

“We’re aware of all their strengths,” the former Crusader boss added.

* (Article continues below Razor interview….)

‘Master tactician Dupont’

Former France skipper Galthie has made four changes from the win over the Brave Blossoms in their first November campaign since last year’s World Cup quarterfinal exit disappointment.

After a sluggish Six Nations and a scandal-hit July tour, Galthie admitted his focus is now on the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

“We start properly now the journey to Australia,” Galthie said.

“I feel that we’re coming together for the first time in the vision that takes us to three years,” he added.

Robertson has recalled flyhalf Beauden Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor, who missed the win in Dublin with injuries.

The former All Blacks and Crusaders back row forward takes his side to Paris for the first time, having spent three seasons with French club Perpignan between 2003 and 2006.

“The All Blacks and Crusaders system was very disciplined and structured,” Robertson, nicknamed ‘Razor’, said.

“In France, they didn’t like that. They liked a little bit of mauling and ‘jouez’ [play].

“There’s no wrong or right way. It’s just a different way to play.

“You learn a lot about yourself, it helped me in my coaching,” he added.

One part of Robertson’s work this week has been hatching a plan on how minimise France scrum-half Antoine Dupont’s influence.

Olympic sevens champion Dupont, who celebrates his 28th birthday the day before the game, provided two assists against Japan in his first 15-a-side game for the national team in more than a year.

“He’s a master tactician,” Robertson said.

“The Stade de France is a place where he’s played some incredible rugby, won a gold medal.

“We’re aware of his brilliance and look forward to playing him,” the 50-year-old added.

Players to watch

For France: Gael Fickou is joined in the starting lineup by fullback Romain Buros on his debut, wing Gabin Villiere and flank Paul Boudehent. Fickou, 30, combines with Yoram Moefana after replacing Emilien Gailleton, who is among the replacements, having been used off the bench himself in last weekend’s November campaign-opening win over Japan. Test novice Buros is in for the dropped Leo Barre, Villiere comes in for Theo Attissogbe who has a knee issue and Boudehent takes the place of the injured Francois Cros. The 27-year-old Buros has been a consistent performer for Bordeaux-Begles since joining them in 2018 and has scored four tries in eight games this season. Antoine Dupont captains Les Bleus in his second match since returning to the national 15-a-side team after his Olympic gold medal heroics in the Sevens format. Matthieu Jalibert drops out of the matchday squad altogether having been a replacement in the victory over Japan. Jalibert, 26, had been Les Bleus’ first-choice flyhalf at last year’s World Cup in place of the injured Romain Ntamack. Thomas Ramos, who usually plays fullback, keeps the No.10 shirt with Ntamack again unavailable through injury and Jalibert is not even considered as a travelling reserve for the game at the Stade de France.

For New Zealand: Beauden Barrett replaces Damian McKenzie at flyhalf. Barrett, 33, missed last week’s win over Ireland with a head injury he suffered in the victory against England on November 2. The two-time World Rugby player of the year replaces McKenzie in the No.10 shirt, in five changes made by coach Scott Robertson. Wing Sevu Reece, scrumhalf Cam Roigard, flank Samipeni Finau and hooker Codie Taylor are also the new faces as New Zealand eye a first win over France since 2018. Reece replaces the injured Mark Tele’a, Roigard comes in for Cortez Ratima and Taylor stands in for Asafo Aumua. Finau is in at blindside flank as Robertson re-shuffles his back row due to Sam Cane’s concussion as Ardie Savea moves to openside and Wallace Sititi is at No.8. The 25-year-old Finau starts having played just 12 minutes off the bench against England and Ireland.

Head to head

Prediction

@rugby365com: New Zealand by three points

Teams

France: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Gabin Villiere, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Alexandre Roumat, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Tevita Tatafu, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Charles Ollivon, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton.

New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevy Reece, 13 Reiko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyral Lomax, 2 Codie Talor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie.

Date: Saturday, November 16
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 21.10 (20.10 GMT; Sunday, November 17, 09.10 NZ time)
Expected weather: Chilly and some clouds. Temperature at kick-off will be 4°C (RealFeel 3°C)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)