Understrength French an unwelcome 'deja vu' in New Zealand
France coach Fabien Galthie picked 17 uncapped players in his squad of 37, with a slew of senior figures rested from the Dunedin opener due to the Top 14 championship match last Saturday.
Galthie may reinforce his Gael Fickou-captained squad for the final tests in Wellington and Hamilton with up to five players from the Top 14 finalists, Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles.
That could bring fullback Thomas Ramos, lock Thibaud Flament and wingers Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey into the mix.
But flyhalf Romain Ntamack is unlikely to feature after having knee surgery in the wake of Toulouse's triumph, while scrumhalf Antoine Dupont has been sidelined with an ACL injury since the Six Nations in March.
They would add to an absentee list which includes loose forwards Gregory Alldritt and Paul Boudehent, and prop Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Injuries and calendar constraints notwithstanding, the B-squad has been viewed dimly in New Zealand, seven years after a similarly depleted France were trounced 3-0 on their last tour.
"I'm really disappointed with the way the French always seem to come up with excuses to not bring their top players," former All Blacks halfback and TV pundit Justin Marshall fumed on Sky Sports.
"Our fans deserve to see their best players playing in our country against our All Blacks because we do that in November to them."
Galthie has said he had no other solution than to pick a developmental squad.
"I think that's pretty clear. Or the New Zealanders will have to help us reinvent a national calendar," he told a press conference last month.
'TRUST OURSELVES'
New Zealand Rugby might like the idea of tweaking the calendar but can only hope that a contest is served up and fans will not feel short-changed.
In 2018, Steve Hansen's All Blacks humiliated the French with a combined scoreline of 127-38 from the three tests at Eden Park, Wellington and Dunedin.
France have not won in New Zealand since a famous 27-22 win at the old Carisbrook ground in Dunedin.
They may struggle to break the losing streak on this tour against an All Blacks outfit keen to make a statement halfway through the World Cup cycle.
Coach Scott Robertson has been at pains to warn his squad to avoid complacency, having tasted defeat in a 30-29 classic at Stade de France last November, the All Blacks' third successive loss to Les Bleus.
While he has lost a couple of key soldiers with injuries to prop Taimati Williams and loose forward Wallace Sititi, Robertson will hope 'next-gen' talents can make strides.
Cameron Roigard and Cortez Ratima are fighting for the starting scrumhalf slot and one-test Wellington Hurricane Ruben Love is looking to make his mark at fullback.
Overall, though, the squad captained by lock Scott Barrett is seasoned and familiar.
Only five uncapped players have been given a chance, including Wellington Hurricanes flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi and Waikato Chiefs hooker Brodie McAlister.
Playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie will resume their running battle for the number 10 shirt, with the loser likely to be deployed at fullback.
"The biggest thing (for us) is we respect (France) with our preparation and understand those strengths," Robertson said on Monday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Wales rue chance to bring unwanted losing streak to an end
More misery was heaped onto Welsh rugby on Saturday as they lost the first of two tests in Japan for an 18th successive defeat, leaving them ruing missed chances to secure a first win in 18 months. The international at the Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu on Kyushu Island was a good opportunity for the beleaguered side to bring the unwanted streak to an end but Wales let a 12-point halftime lead slip as Japan rallied to snatch a 24-19 victory. "It's very tough to take because we have worked hard. We take nothing away from Japan for the way they played and coming out on top but we had moments to win that game and put it to bed,' said Wales captain Dewi Lake. "We just allowed Japan to play their game in the second half, and they're tough to stop when they're playing at speed,' he added. Wales began brightly and scored three first half tries to go 19-7 up at the break but the heat and humidity caught up with them after the break, when they were on the back foot and put up a nervy showing. Japan scored two unanswered tries in the second half and took the lead with nine minutes left, holding on for a win they celebrated vociferously. "Obviously conditions are going to play a factor, but we're not blaming that, again we weren't clinical enough. The weather was a factor but we'll look at ourselves first," Lake added. Interim coach Matt Sherratt, who took over during the Six Nations earlier this year when veteran coach Warren Gatland was replaced, also refused to blame the energy-sapping humidity. "I would be making excuses if I said that,' he said. "If you look at the game, we took pretty much every chance we got bar one in their 22. "We had a lead going into the first half so to lose the game at the end is very disappointing. "We have a young group, we have not had a win for a while and those little scars can start to run deep.' But Sherratt said next Saturday's second test in Kobe would be another chance to win and record a first triumph since beating Georgia at the last World Cup in France. "We have got to quickly use the hurt to fuel us for next week. The great thing about this tour is we get the opportunity to put it right." REUTERS
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
All Blacks hold off depleted France 31-27 in Dunedin thriller
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Will Jordan scored a try in each half and Beauden Barrett kicked to perfection as the All Blacks overcame three cancelled tries to claim a nervous 31-27 win over France in the series-opener in Dunedin on Saturday. Fielding only three players from the Six Nations title-deciding win over Scotland, the depleted French gave Scott Robertson's team a huge scare in an entertaining match at sold-out Forsyth-Barr stadium. But a late Barrett penalty proved enough for the All Blacks to hold on, snapping a three-match losing streak against Les Bleus. "Just a typical test match against the French for us," said Jordan, who was denied a hat-trick try by the television match official (TMO). "A couple of errors cost us ... But we showed good composure to finish it off in the end there." The All Blacks lost Sevu Reece to a head-knock less than a minute in when the winger clattered into a French hip, forcing Robertson into a backline rejig and Damian McKenzie to play at fullback off the bench. The French had a better start, with debutant flyhalf Joris Segonds booting a penalty in the seventh minute after winger Gabin Villiere won a turnover penalty. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in a more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on best friend for strength and support Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi France charged out to a 10-0 lead as fullback Theo Attissogbe made a break down the left wing, centre-captain Gael Fickou drove the ball to the line and number eight Mickael Guillard crossed by the right post. Chastened, the All Blacks hit back hard. A Jordie Barrett try was denied by a knock-on the buildup but minutes later his brothers combined for their first legal try. Scott Barrett charged down a French clearing kick behind the 22-metre line before Beauden put Jordan over at the right corner with a superb, loop pass. McKenzie kept the momentum for the hosts, shrugging off four would-be tacklers with a jinking run to the posts before Tupou Vaa'i barged over to put the All Blacks four points up. The Barrett brothers struck again on the cusp of half-time, this time with centre Jordie touching down at the right corner after quick hands from Beauden and Jordan. The All Blacks' 21-13 halftime lead all but disappeared within minutes of the restart, though, as Rieko Ioane spilled the kick-off ball forward to gift France a scrum deep in attack. Battering away for 16 phases, Segonds spread the ball wide to Villiere who jogged through a gaping hole in the All Blacks' line on the right side. The try-fest continued as Jordan burst through two defenders to cross for his second, with Beauden Barrett again setting up the chance. Fresh off the bench, France lock Cameron Woki then crossed under the posts to peg back the All Blacks again. The pendulum swung back to the hosts with Villiere shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. A minute later, All Blacks centre Billy Proctor stretched an arm over the line -- only for the try to be cancelled as replays showed an illegal grounding of the ball. The undermanned French soon buckled again, with Jordan crossing for his hat-trick try in the 63rd minute. But it was erased by the TMO who spotted prop Pasilio Tosi obstructing a French defender in the buildup. France will have reinforcements for the second and third tests in Wellington and Hamilton. France's debutant lock Tyler Duguid said his team performed well after being widely written off. "It feels good. There was a lot of outside noise that we'd come out, we'd take 50 (points)," he said. "But I thought we showed a lot of spirit." REUTERS
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Welsh misery continues as they lose first test in Japan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Japan stormed back in the second half to beat Wales 24-19 on Kyushu Island on Saturday in the first of a two-test series, extending the visitors' record losing streak to 18 matches. Japan were 19-7 down at the break, but two second-half tries saw them come back to overhaul the deficit. There were three tries for both teams in the clash in hot and humid conditions in an error-strewn clash at the Mikuni World Stadium, where Wales were hoping to end 18 months of misery, having last won a match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Georgia in Nantes, France. They looked to be well on course at the break but fell apart in the second half as Japan rallied for the narrow victory. Japan's fullback Takuro Matsunaga scored in the first half, while his replacement Ichigo Nakakusu and fellow substitute Halatoa Vailea went over for two more tries. All were converted by Lee Seungsin, who also kicked over a penalty. The tourists' points came in the first half, with Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers going over, and Wales also awarded a penalty try. Sam Costelow kicked over a single conversion. Welsh rugby is seeking to rebuild after plunging to a new low in a 68-14 defeat to England in their final Six Nations game in March, but the loss in Japan is a further blow as they will now drop to 14th in the world rankings. Thomas gave them an early lead, finishing off a break from the lineout by Taulupe Faletau to go over in the fourth minute. Japan levelled matters with a score from their first attack in the 16th minute with some slick handling in the backline, but Wales were 19-7 ahead at the break after the penalty try and Rogers' score in the corner. Nakakusu reduced the deficit with a 59th-minute try as Japan took control in the second half against a weary and nervy-looking Wales side, with Lee's penalty five minutes later making it a two-point game with 15 minutes to go. Halatoa Vailea then finished off a line-out maul to see Japan go ahead in the 71st minute and claim the victory. The two teams meet again next Saturday in the second test at Misaki Park in Kobe. REUTERS
