SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 1 hr 58 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
friendly | International Rugby Union
Nov 16, 2024 at 8.10pm UK
 
France
vs.
New Zealand
 

Preview: France vs. New Zealand - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: France vs. New Zealand - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's friendly clash between France and New Zealand, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Saturday's Autumn Nations Series fixtures will draw to a close with a blockbuster matchup, with France set to lock horns with New Zealand at the Stade de France.

The hosts got their year-end internationals underway with a comfortable victory over the Brave Blossoms last week, while the visitors took down the mighty Ireland in Dublin.


Match preview

It has been a tough year for France, which began with a lacklustre Six Nations campaign, where they were without their influential leader and evidently suffering a World Cup hangover, followed by the drama in South America in July which culminated in a final-week defeat to Argentina.

However, with Antoine Dupont now back after winning Olympic gold, Les Bleus are starting to remind onlookers why they were the number-one team in the world less than two years ago.

Fabien Galthie's side kicked off their Autumn Nations series last week against Japan and looked as though they were having a training run at times, with Dupont pulling the strings in the eight-try victory which ended 52-12.

Aside from the scrum-half, Louis Bielle-Biarrey was almost unplayable across the 80, as the winger ran in three tries and assisted Alexandre Roumat for a fourth, taking Les Bleus out of by halftime 31-0 to the good.

Now, though, comes a massive step-up in class of opponent for the French, who by their own admission, were guilty of giving away far too many penalties in the second half last week, and it will be interesting to see how some of their emerging players handle the pressure of facing their Southern Hemisphere counterparts.

Meanwhile, after their heartbreaking World Cup final defeat and a relatively poor showing at the Rugby Championship, which included a shocking defeat to Argentina, New Zealand are also starting to return to the type of form we have become used to seeing from them.

The All Blacks put on a resilient performance to hold off England at the start of the month, but their undoubted best showing of 2024 came last weekend when they overcame Ireland 23-13 in Dublin, where they showed their ability to adapt to a different flow of play.

The victory over Ireland felt like a breakthrough performance for Scott Robertson, as his side seemed to address the majority of the areas they lacked in at the Rugby Championship, showing much more power in the scrum, better timing at lineouts, and greater quality in their kicking game.

They also had to rely on both strategy and resilience, and it was their calm, methodical approach that allowed them to overcome an early second-half surge, turning a 13-12 deficit into a 23-13 lead within 20 minutes.

Still, despite the All Blacks' upturn in results, they will know this will be a different type of challenge altogether, against an opponent they have not beaten since back in 2018.

During that period, they lost the opening game of last year's World Cup and conceded 40 points in the French capital in 2021 - the last time New Zealand lost three straight games to Les Bleus was in the mid-1990s.

France form (all competitions):

  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W


New Zealand form (all competitions):

  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W


Team News

Galthie has handed a long-awaited debut to Romain Buros for this match against New Zealand, and the Bordeaux man will come straight into the action for Leo Barre as one of four changes to last week's starting 15.

Toulon's Gabin Villiere is another new face in the back three, while stalwart Gael Fickou returns to occupy the number 13 jersey, resuming his midfield partnership with Yoram Moefana.

Paul Boudehent comes in for Francois Cros in the second row, while Thomas Ramos retains his spot at fly-half, forming one-half of the famous Toulouse axis alongside his skipper Dupont.

Robertson has given All Black fans what they have been crying out for, with Ardie Savea set to return to the starting 15, though he will be wearing the number seven jersey for the first time in over three years.

Behind the scrum, a key decision sees Damian McKenzie drop to the bench, with Beauden Barrett returning to the starting lineup at fly-half after missing the Ireland match due to a head injury.

Beyond the playmakers, Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane remain in the centre pairing, while Sevu Reece steps in for the injured Mark Telea, joining Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan in the back three.


France starting lineup: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Gabin Villiere, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gregory Aldritt, 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 Emilen Gailleton


New Zealand starting lineup: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko 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 (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Partick Tuipulotu, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie


We say: France 20-27 New Zealand

New Zealand pulled off an incredible result last week with a performance that was significantly improved from those they put on at the Rugby Championship. France thumped Japan last time out, but this is a much bigger test for Les Bleus, and we feel they may just come up short if the All Blacks can replicate their performance from Dublin in this one.



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__558122 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-11-14 18:27:35:
html db last update - 2024-11-14 18:27:35 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
"Hugely exciting times ahead" - England upbeat despite All Blacks defeat
Is De Bruyne Man City's saviour? Can "true captain" ease Guardiola's problems?
Arsenal 'make decision' over January Jorginho sale amid Besiktas interest
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Feeling blue: Man City to thwart Chelsea swoop for £20m PL star?

1

FB

Preview: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PL

Who will Humphries, Littler play after learning PDC World Championship draw?

NEW

3

WW

'The understanding must improve': Amorim calls out Man Utd duo after Ipswich draw

4

'U

Preview: Celtic vs. Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PC

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid: Head-to-head record and past meetings

6

LV

Man City 'identify two midfield targets' ahead of January transfer window

7

MC

Diaz or Endrick to replace Vinicius? Predicted Real Madrid XI vs. Liverpool

8

DO

Will Trent return against his admirers? Predicted Liverpool XI vs. Real Madrid

9

WT

Former PL official gives verdict on Leicester, Chelsea decisions

10

FP


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .