Latest news with #DaveGallaherTrophy
1News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- 1News
'Express yourself' - All Blacks skipper Barrett backs new boys to shine
All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett says he has full confidence the four Test debutants named to play France in Dunedin tomorrow will replay the faith show in them by the selectors. Lock Fabian Holland and No.8 Christian Lio-Willie will start against France, with prop Ollie Norris and loose forward D'Plessis Kirifi potentially making their debuts off the reserves bench. And of them all, Barrett, not known for overly praising his teammates, reserved the highest of compliments for Kirifi, the 28-year-old Hurricanes player who has had to bide his time. When pressed today after the captain's run under the roof on a drizzly day in the deep south about why he believed the team would be fully aligned despite the several new faces, Barrett replied: 'Du'Plessis and Fabian – both of those boys were in and around the group for the majority of the northern tour last season. 'I actually said to Du'Plessis that he's certainly ready for Test match rugby. He plays a physical game, combative, loves the breakdown. He's going to be a real asset to this team.' ADVERTISEMENT That qualifies as gushing for the circumspect Barrett, who will pack down alongside Holland in the second row, with another lock, Tupou Vaa'i, named at blindside flanker in what is easily the biggest selection surprise. Ardie Savea, left, trains with Du'Plessis Kirifi at the captain's run in Dunedin. (Source: Photosport) 'We're right in behind those boys and they have proud families in behind them,' Barrett said. 'As always it's about them going out there and expressing themselves in the jersey – trusting themselves and their instincts. 'Tupou has had another great Super Rugby season and is getting more and more experienced at Test match level. It's a great asset to us if he can play lock or six.' The All Blacks have lost three Tests in a row to France – their last defeat coming in November in Paris – and Barrett said winning a certain trophy back was high on the agenda in the midst of plenty of commentary about an inexperienced French team. France have included five players on debut in the starting XV, with three more on the reserves bench. 'We're certainly not reading anything into this being a 'weakened' French side… you have to give them the utmost respect and we've certainly given them that. The Dave Gallaher Trophy is on the line. We haven't had much success in recent years against the French so we're looking to turn that around.'
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Worth bearing in mind hot-favourite ABs have lost past three to France
Both the All Blacks and the Otago public might want to consider the perils of complacency as they gear up for tomorrow night's test against France at Forsyth Barr Stadium. There has, fairly, been plenty of noise around the French sending a weakened team to our shores for a three-test series. And it is, for all the bluff being muttered about the depth of French rugby, a significantly weakened team. There is no Antoine Dupont — the peerless halfback is injured on top of his usual reluctance to play in the southern hemisphere. There is also no Romain Ntamack, no Damian Penaud, no Thomas Ramos, no Gregory Alldritt, no Louis Bielle-Biarrey, and no Thibaud Flament. Remarkably, just two players — captain Gael Fickou and winger Gabin Villiere — remain in the squad from the French team that started the November test against the All Blacks. Straightforward 50-point victory then, eh? Hmm. Not to get all Chicken Little about the situation, because facts are facts, but All Blacks fans might want to keep a few things in mind. The first — and I am absolutely certain most supporters have either forgotten or blocked this out — is that France have won their past three tests against the All Blacks. All three of those clashes were in Paris, granted. But a losing streak as much as three against any opposition makes grim reading for any New Zealand rugby team, and there should be some intense motivation to ensure the streak does not reach four. Secondly, it is a sad reality that the All Blacks have underwhelmed under the Dunedin roof in recent times. They were given a heck of a fright by an average English team last year — in Scott Robertson's first game as coach — before escaping with a 16-15 win. They also laboured to a 23-20 win over a depleted Wallabies team in Dunedin in 2023, and of course they were beaten 23-12 by the Irish at the stadium in 2022. "Underwhelming" was also, broadly speaking, the adjective most commonly used to describe Robertson's first year as coach. The All Blacks lost four tests last year and seemed to struggle to establish their identity in the post-Ian Foster era. More is expected this year, and it would be nice if the tone could be set in the Dunedin test, the first for the Dave Gallaher Trophy. While Robertson — who, to be fair, has consistently said he has never known a bad French team, and that they are dangerous when under-estimated — has shown boldness with some of his selections, he has rewarded players for form. Highlanders hero Fabian Holland completes the most fantastic fairytale, and Otago No 8 Christian Lio-Willie is rewarded for his consistency with the Crusaders. There will be much interest in how Rieko Ioane performs back on the wing, whether this could be the start of Billy Proctor cementing his place in the No13 jersey, and what a radically rejigged loose forward trio can do. This might — again, not to be seen as someone suggesting the sky will fall down — also be an important night for Otago rugby fans. It seems highly possible this will be the last All Blacks test for a while. Christchurch's fancy new house opens next year, and there will be fewer home tests in both 2026 and 2027. Make the most of it tonight, just in case.
