New Zealand v France - teams and prediction
PREVIEW: France are introducing some new faces, while New Zealand opt for continuity as the two teams do battle in the second Test in Wellington.
The All Blacks kicked off their 2025 season with a 31-27 win over France last week in Dunedin.
However, it wasn’t a vintage All Blacks performance, with Scott Robertson’s team struggling to dominate against a France team with 20 debutants in the 42-man squad.
New Zealand did have three tries disallowed, but errors or ill discipline put paid to their efforts.
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“I think we’ve just got to be more clinical and play in the right areas of the field,” stand-in captain Ardie Savea said of Saturday’s second fixture.
“Credit to the French, last week they put us under pressure and they stayed with us, so we’ve got to be clinical in the right areas of the field and finish.”
France made 10 changes to the starting side for the second Test, and expectations are high that, in wet and windy conditions, they could cause a major headache for the hosts.
“We’ve learned that any team that the All Blacks play, they turn up, play their best footy,” Savea said.
“We saw that with the French last week. For us, it doesn’t matter who we play; we’ve just got to turn up because we know they’re going to be great on the weekend.”
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Back in France, All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu had signed a new one-year contract with Toulon to continue playing until the age of 44.
Savea followed the same pathway to the All Blacks as Nonu, starting with Rongotai College in Wellington before moving to club rugby, Wellington’s provincial team, and then the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.
“He’s a community man and when he came around to the club rooms when I was a little kid, he gave everyone a whole buzz,” Savea said.
“For him to still be playing, mate, someone needs to study him. He’s been massive and huge. He was our light in our community to go all the way and be a great All Black, so yeah, huge inspiration. Still my idol to this day.”
Would Savea follow Nonu’s footsteps further, and still be playing in 2038, at age 44?
“I don’t know. You’ve got to ask my wife.”
Players to watch:
For New Zealand: It is certainly time for senior players to raise their hands. Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu replaces regular Scott Barrett in the second row. He will add physicality and is effective at the line-outs. Ardie Savea, an incredible talent, usually struggles when given the captain’s armband, but will have to overcome this challenge. In the backline, Emoni Narawa is a late call-up after an injury to Caleb Clark. The Chiefs wing partners with Will Jordan at fullback and Rieko Ioane at left wing. Flyhalf Beauden Barrett will have to control proceedings and execute his tactical kicks.
For France: It’s a very inexperienced French side that takes to the field. Ten-cap hooker Gaetan Barlot will captain the team after experienced centre Gael Fickou was left out of the matchday 23. The most experienced French players in the 23-man squad are Cameron Woki (31 caps) and Romain Taofifenua (55 caps), who are both on the bench. The nippy 23-year-old scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec will want to prove himself as he partners with Joris Segonds, who really impressed last week in Dunedin.
Prediction:
Rugby365: New Zealand by 10 points
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Samipeni Finau, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Damian McKenzie.
France: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 11 Emilien Gailleton, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Esteban Abadie, 7 Jacobus Van Tonder, 6 Pierre Bochaton, 5 Matthias Halagahu, 4 Joshua Brennan, 3 Georges-Henri Colombe, 2 Gaetan Barlot (captain), 1 Baptiste Erdocio.
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22 Thibault Daubagna, 23 Antoine Hastoy.
Date: Saturday, July 12
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium
Kick-off: 19.05 (09.05 French rtime; 07.05 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (France)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Takehito Namekawa (Japan)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
