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TEST PREVIEW: ALL BLACKS V FRANCE (PARIS)

The All Blacks team has been named to play France for the Dave Gallaher Trophy in the final Test of their Tudor Northern Tour at Stade de France, Paris, on Saturday 20 November (Kick off: 9.00PM CET / 9.00AM Sunday NZT).

The matchday 23 is:

  1. Joe Moody (56)
  2. Dane Coles (79)
  3. Nepo Laulala (39)
  4. Brodie Retallick (91)
  5. Samuel Whitelock (131) – captain
  6. Akira Ioane (12)
  7. Sam Cane (76)
  8. Ardie Savea (59)
  9. Aaron Smith (101)
  10. Richie Mo’unga (31)
  11. George Bridge (18)
  12. Quinn Tupaea (6)
  13. Rieko Ioane (46)
  14. Will Jordan (12)
  15. Jordie Barrett (35)
  16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (8)
  17. George Bower (10)
  18. Ofa Tuungafasi (43)
  19. Tupou Vaa’i (10)
  20. Shannon Frizell (16)
  21. Brad Weber (16)
  22. Damian McKenzie (39)
  23. David Havili (14)

In several changes from the 23 which played last weekend, Dane Coles will start at hooker, with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming onto the bench; George Bower and Ofa Tuungafasi come in as reserve props; Akira Ioane starts at six and Sam Cane at seven; with Shannon Frizell coming onto the bench as loose forward cover.

In the backs, Aaron Smith starts at halfback, with Richie Mo’unga at ten.  Quinn Tupaea comes in at 12 to pair up with Rieko Ioane in the midfield, and George Bridge comes in on the left wing.  Brad Weber and Damian McKenzie come onto the bench, joining David Havili as the back reserves.

All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said: “We’re really excited about this match, it’s a big statement game for us, and we know we have to respond from the Irish performance.

“It’s been an incredibly long tour but I’ve been delighted with how the players have handled it from a physical point of view.  They’ve given us everything and I couldn’t be more proud of the way they’ve handled the length of this tour.

“But we’ve had to manage the physical and mental load for the players, so have changed things up a bit for this final Test to maximise the energy within the whole group. That’s not a reflection on the guys that haven’t been selected, it’s more a chance to bring some fresh players in, and that’s going to be vital for us.”

Foster said All Blacks versus France Tests were always eagerly-anticipated clashes.

“There’s a mutual respect between our two countries built over years and years.  Kiwis have always loved the way the French play, there’s a flair about them that we’ve always been drawn to … they have knocked us over in some pretty big moments in history.

“They are a young, formidable team building in confidence and they’ve been targeting this match so it’s a huge way for us to finish our Tudor Northern Tour.”


Played: 61
Won: All Blacks 48, France 12, Drawn 1
Last time: All Blacks 49, France 14 (23 June 2018)
Referee: Wayne Barnes

CH, CH, CHANGES
Coach Ian Foster has made several changes from the 23 which played Ireland last weekend. Dane Coles will start at hooker, with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming onto the bench; George Bower and Ofa Tuungafasi come in as reserve props; Akira Ioane starts at six and Sam Cane at seven; with Shannon Frizell coming onto the bench as loose forward cover. In the backs, Aaron Smith starts at halfback, with Richie Mo’unga at ten.  Quinn Tupaea comes in at 12 to pair up with Rieko Ioane in the midfield, and George Bridge comes in on the left wing.  Brad Weber and Damian McKenzie come onto the bench, joining David Havili as the back reserves. “We’ve had to manage the physical and mental load for the players, so have changed things up a bit for this final Test to maximise the energy within the whole group,” Foster said.

TWO MORE TRIES
The All Blacks need just two more tries to become the first side in Test match history to score 100 tries in a single season. The previous record of 92 had been held by Argentina since 2003 until the All Blacks broke the mark during their 47-9 victory over Italy in Rome. Will Jordan tops the try-scoring for the side in 2021 with 15 tries, just two tries short of Joe Rokocoko’s record mark of 17 tries set in 2003.

ALL EYES ON DUPONT
Northern Hemisphere rugby followers have known for some time about the world class ability of halfback Antoine Dupont, and now New Zealand rugby fans get the chance to see the French maestro in action. Regarded by some pundits as the best halfback in the game, Dupont has been nominated for the World Player of the Year award in 2021 and will relish the opportunity to duel with 100-cap All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith who returns to the side for the final Test of the year. Loose forward Sam Cane spoke of Dupont’s threat in the lead-up to the Test. “His speed of delivery is first-class, but he’s a constant threat with the ball and, because he’s a constant threat, he creates space for others around him because you have got to put so much attention on him defensively,” Cane said.

DAVE GALLAHER TROPHY
The Dave Gallaher Trophy will be on the line at Stade de France. The trophy was introduced in 2000 and commemorates Dave Gallaher, who was captain of the famous 1905–06 “Originals” All Blacks and later died in battle at Passchendaele in 1917 during World War One. The All Blacks have held the trophy since 2009. While Stade de France is a stronghold for Les Bleus in the Six Nations, the All Blacks remain unbeaten at the ground with six victories and one draw.

STATCHAT (Opta)
France have lost their last 14 games against the All Blacks – only against Wales have Les Bleus lost more consecutive Tests (15 losses between 1908 and 1927). France’s last home win against the All Blacks was back in November 2000 (42-33).


TEAMS
 
France
1. Cyril Baille, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 3. Uini Antonio, 4. Cameron Woki, 5. Paul Willemse, 6. Anthony Jelonch, 7. Francois Cros, 8. Gregory Alldritt, 9. Antoine Dupont, 10. Romain Ntamack, 11. Gabin Villière, 12. Jonathan Danty, 13. Gael Fickou, 14. Damian Penaud, 15. Melvyn Jaminet
Reserves: 16. Gaëtan Barlot, 17. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18. Demba Bamba, 19. Thibaud Flament, 20. Dylan Cretin, 21. Maxime Lucu, 23. Mathieu Jailbert

All Blacks (caps in brackets):
1. Joe Moody (56) 2. Dane Coles (79) 3. Nepo Laulala (39) 4. Brodie Retallick (91) 5. Samuel Whitelock (131) – captain 6. Akira Ioane (12) 7. Sam Cane (76) 8. Ardie Savea (59) 9. Aaron Smith (101) 10. Richie Mo’unga (31) 11. George Bridge (18) 12. Quinn Tupaea (6) 13. Rieko Ioane (46) 14. Will Jordan (12) 15. Jordie Barrett (35)
Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (8) 17. George Bower (10) 18. Ofa Tuungafasi (43) 19. Tupou Vaa’i (10) 20. Shannon Frizell (16) 21. Brad Weber (16) 22. Damian McKenzie (39) 23. David Havili (14)


Key facts

  • The All Blacks and France have played each other 61 times since 1906, with 48 wins to the All Blacks,  12 wins to France and one draw.  The last match between the two sides was in Dunedin in 2018 which the All Blacks won 49-14. The last Test in France was in Paris on the 2017 Northern Tour, which the All Blacks won 38-18.
  • The All Blacks will again be playing for the Dave Gallaher Trophy, which the All Blacks have held since 2009. The trophy was introduced in 2000 and commemorates Dave Gallaher, who was captain of the famous 1905–06 “Originals” All Blacks and later died in battle at Passchendaele in 1917 during World War One.
  • Dane Coles will be playing his 80th Test, Ardie Savea his 60th, while Nepo Laulala and Damian McKenzie will be playing their 40th.

All Blacks Tudor Northern Tour

All Blacks 104 USA 14
Saturday 23 October, FedExField, Greater Landover, MARYLAND 20785

All Blacks 54 Wales 16
Saturday 30 October, Principality Stadium, CARDIFF

All Blacks 47 Italy 9
Saturday 6 November, Stadio Olimpico, Viale dei Gladiatori, ROME

All Blacks 20 Ireland 29
Saturday 13 November, Aviva Stadium, DUBLIN

All Blacks vs France
9.00PM CET Saturday 20 November / 9.00AM Sunday 21 November NZT
Stade de France, 93200 Saint-Denis, PARIS

The All Blacks: With a history extending back more than a century, New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, is not only the most successful international rugby team of all time but also one of the most successful teams in world sport, with a winning Test record of more than 75 percent. The All Blacks play European opponents every year in June and again at the end of the year, and play Argentina, Australia and South Africa annually in The Rugby Championship. In 2015 the All Blacks became the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, following their victory in 2011, and the first team to win three RWCs, with the All Blacks winning the inaugural Tournament in 1987. In 2013 they became the first international team in the professional era to go through the season unbeaten. The team has been named the World Rugby Team of the Year a record nine times and was Laureus Team of the Year in 2016.

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