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Associated Press
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
New Zealand 29, France 19
Hamilton, New Zealand Waikato Stadium Saturday New Zealand 29 (Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Brodie McAlister tries; Damian McKenzie 3 conversions, penalty), France 19 (Nolann Le Garrec try; Le Garrec conversion, 3 penalties, Antoine Hastoy drop goal). HT: 17-19
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is New Zealand vs France on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch All Blacks
New Zealand take on France looking to seal a 3-0 series sweep in Hamilton. With the visitors understrength having been unable to select most of their Six Nations-winning stars, the All Blacks had been anticipated to win on home soil but were still given a real scare in the opening encounter in Dunedin. A much improved first-half showing last weekend in Wellington ensured that New Zealand were comfortable winners, though a few stumbles after the interval will leave Scott Robertson still seeking an 80-minute performance from his team. Can France pounce on any complacency to secure a significant result in this third and final fixture? Here's everything you need to know. When is New Zealand vs France? New Zealand vs France is due to kick off at 8.05am BST on Saturday 19 July at FMG Stadium in Hamilton. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports action, with coverage from 7.50am BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW. Team news All Blacks boss Scott Robertson rotates in places as he freshens up his squad for the third Test. A shuffle of playmakers sees Damian McKenzie stationed at full-back with youngster Ruben Love given an opportunity at full-back, while fit-again wing Sevu Reece is also included in the starting back three. Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown form a new-look centre partnership. Rieko Ioane is a late scratch with a tight hamstring; Will Jordan steps into the starting side and Jordie Barrett on to the bench. Up front, Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson join Ardie Savea in the back row, with the openside flanker continuing to captain in the absence of Scott Barrett. Replacement hooker Brodie McAlister is primed for a debut off the bench. Gael Fickou returns to skipper the France side from the centres, with he and tighthead prop Rabah Slimani injecting significant experience after Fabien Galthie fielded a particularly callow unit in the second Test. Joshua Brennan moves a row backwards from lock to flanker to join the equally versatile Mickael Guillard, again stationed at No 8, while Antoine Hastoy re-takes the reins at fly half. Gabin Villiere gets a start ahead of Emilien Gailleton on the wing Line-ups New Zealand XV: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3 Tyrel Lomax; 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 5 Fabian Holland; 6 Samipeni Finau, 7 Ardie Savea (capt.), 8 Luke Jacobson; 9 Cortez Ratima, 10 Damian McKenzie; 11 Sevu Reece, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Will Jordan; 15 Ruben Love. : 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Dalton Papali'i, 20 Du'Plessis Kirifi; 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Jordie Barrett. France XV: 1 Baptiste Erdocio, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 3 Rabah Slimani; 4 Hugo Auradou, 5 Matthias Halagahu; 6 Alexandre Fischer, 7 Joshua Brennan, 8 Mickael Guillard; 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 10 Antoine Hastoy; 11 Gabin Villiere, 12 Gael Fickou (capt.), 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 14 Theo Attissogbe; 15 Leo Barre. : 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Pierre Bochaton; 22 Thibault Daubagna, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
RNZ News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
‘I don't feel any pressure' - Ruben Love on All Blacks call up
All Blacks v France Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 19 July FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Live blog updates on RNZ Ruben Love's youthful confidence couldn't have been displayed any better when he was asked about the potential pressure of his selection for Saturday night's test against France. Love will start at fullback, but with Beauden Barrett out injured, stands as the only backup at first five for the All Blacks, despite only having played one test. "I'm 24 and I don't feel any pressure," said Love at the team naming press conference. "When you're training and competing against Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, you gain a lot of confidence just being around them, talking to them off the field and training with them on it. So there's no reason for me not to feel confident." Love made his solitary test appearance off the bench, coming on and scoring two tries in the last 10 minutes in last year's comfortable win over Japan. However, he had been in the All Blacks set up all year, initially brought in as injury cover in the first squad of the season. Ruben Love Photo: Christopher Jue/ActionPress "I've been in this environment all of last year, learned of the great coaches and the great players. And this week, I've got experienced wingers, I've got Anton (Lienert-Brown) inside me. "So yeah, I'm going to go out there, play my game and make my opportunities come." Love is also coming off an exceptional season for the Hurricanes, in which his switch from fullback to first five played no small part in the side's dramatic form reversal. They lifted themselves to eight straight wins, and while they ended up losing their play-off to the Brumbies, they proved that the future looks bright for the admittedly long-suffering franchise. Hurricanes Ruben Love scores during the Super Rugby Pacific match, Moana Pasifika v Hurricanes, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland. Photo: Michael Thomas/ActionPress "Understanding all the plays, how we want to play the game," is how Love describes the mastery of both positions. "And where both first five and full back fit in. So the way I can gather all the confidence that I need is just preparing in both roles. So in training, getting 10 and 15 and just making sure that, if the moment comes that I'm just ready to do both all the same." Love will most likely find himself at first receiver a few times anyway, especially on the counterattack opportunities that the All Blacks will look to create off messy ball. Barrett revealed post-match in Wellington that the kicking strategy was designed to create a bouncing, contestable ball that could create attacking situations, which Love will hope to read and make the most of off first phase. "I feel like I'm good at giving players confidence as well," he said. "I'm vocal on the field. I've got a never-say-no attitude, so I just want to be a great teammate, be reliable." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
France 24
17-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
New Zealand, France make mass changes to sides for third Test
Damian McKenzie (R) will start at flyhalf in New Zealand's third Test against France All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he will "trust the young fellas" to complete a series sweep after making 10 starting changes for Saturday's match in Hamilton. French counterpart Fabien Galthie unveiled eight starting changes from the side hammered 43-17 in the second Test in Wellington. Galthie recalled six players to the starting side who were involved in the tight 31-27 first Test loss in Dunedin but omitted in Wellington. Among them are veteran midfield back Gael Fickou -- restored as captain -- experienced prop Rabah Slimani and impressive back-row forwards Mickael Guillard and Alexandre Fischer. Galthie chose to leave most of his first-choice personnel at home, travelling with a tour party featuring 22 uncapped players and numerous fringe Test contenders. "This is the best possible team," he told reporters on Thursday, addressing critics of a vastly inexperienced line-up for the second Test. "It's a difficult time for the team, we hear what's being said. It's part of the game but our determination is redoubled." Replacement prop Demba Bamba is the only player in Galthie's 23-man match-day squad in Hamilton making his first appearance of the tour. Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and wing Theo Attissogbe will have started in all three Tests while seven players won't have taken to the playing field at all. Robertson stayed true to his pre-series pledge to give game time to all of his squad's players, with hooker Brodie McAlister poised to make his Test debut from the bench and fullback Ruben Love running out for a first start. Love and McAlister are among eight players in the 23 who played no part in the first two Tests Only wing Rieko Ioane is retained from last week's starting back line, with Robertson keen to assess a host of new faces as he builds towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup. "When the chances come up, you can't not play them, you've got to get them out there," Robertson said. "It's the ability to trust the young fellas, set them up to be successful and off you go." Robertson took comfort that three of the promoted starting players -- prop Tyrel Lomax, fly-half Damian McKenzie and midfield back Anton Lienert-Brown -- have all played more than 50 Tests. McKenzie replaces 136-Test veteran Beauden Barrett, who suffered a hand injury at training which requires a scan. Ardie Savea is captain for a second straight match in the absence of regular skipper Scott Barrett, who injured a calf muscle in the first Test. New Zealand (15-1): Ruben Love; Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Rieko Ioane; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (capt), Samipeni Finau; Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu; Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ethan de Groot. Replacements: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Dalton Papali'i, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Noah Hotham, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Will Jordan. France (15-1): Leo Barre; Theo Attissogbe, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Fickou (capt), Gabin Villiere; Antoine Hastoy, Nolann Le Garrec; Joshua Brennan, Mickael Guillard, Alexandre Fischer; Matthias Halagahu, Hugo Auradou; Rabah Slimani, Pierre Bourgarit, Baptiste Erdocio. Replacements: Gaetan Barlot, Paul Mallez, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Killian Tixeront, Pierre Bochaton, Thibault Daubagna, Emilien Gailleton © 2025 AFP
RNZ News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Depth perception: Robertson explains All Black selections for third test
All Blacks v France Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 19 July FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Live blog updates on RNZ For the first time in a while, it feels like the All Blacks can make wholesale changes and retain a level of overall experience. Scott Robertson had pledged that all his 33 players in the initial squad would get on the field in this series against France, and his selection for the final test in Hamilton lived up to that. Prop Tyrel Lomax, loose forward Luke Jacobson, halfback Cortez Ratima, first five Damian McKenzie, centre Anton Lienert-Brown and wing Sevu Reece come back into the starting line-up, a combined total of 199 caps. Ruben Love will earn his second at fullback, while Brodie McAlister will presumably debut, making the whole situation a far more manageable one than potentially having to blood a bunch of players at once. Ruben Love Photo: Christopher Jue/ActionPress "Good combinations, a good balanced squad and they get the opportunity this weekend," said Robertson at the team naming press conference. "Like any plan, you always adjust. Look it's got a great mixture of experience in the in the group." Whether by accident or design, Robertson has ended up with a Chiefs-heavy All Black side. There are seven in the starting team, including the inside back combination of Ratima and McKenzie. "It was a consideration that they know their way around the park down the road here pretty well. Play a lot of footy together, which always helps. They get to run out in front of their people." However, there is one area where the All Blacks are making do. Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa'i's injuries mean that they are going in with only two specialist locks, and while Fabian Holland has been very impressive in his first two tests, a lot will now rest on the shoulders of Patrick Tuipulotu. Robertson said the contingency plan was enacted last weekend. All Black Samipeni Finau on the charge against France in the first rugby test at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. 5 July 2025. Photo: Peter Meecham "We considered Naitoa (Ah Kuoi), but Samipeni (Finau) finished the game last week at lock. It's good for us, you know how I like to make sure players can play a couple of positions, and he's like that. The last three weeks and set him up so he can do two roles, six and lock." While Finau may end up in the engine room again, Love will likely have a lot of work to do covering the back field. France have shown a commitment to kicking long for territory in the two tests so far, but Robertson was confident the Hurricanes fullback will handle the pressure, as well as the possibility of playing first five. "He's ready for this. We expect a lot of kicking and he's great under the high ball. And he's got a great boot himself. So he gives us that depth that's required." France names their side tonight, with coach Fabien Galthié expected to move back to the team that pushed the All Blacks to a 31-27 result in the first test. Despite heavy rain all week in the upper North Island, the weather is expected to clear by Saturday night for what will be a capacity crowd at FMG Stadium Waikato.
