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NZ Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Blacks vs France: Where the first test will be won
The accuracy and speed demanded by test rugby are a significant step up from the Super scene, which usually requires a period of adjustment. How that quartet channel nerves bubbling within will determine their ability to seize the biggest occasion of their careers. All Blacks debutants Fabian Holland, Christian Lio-Willie, Ollie Norris and Du'Plessis Kirifi. Photo / Photosport Last year, in Scott Robertson's first test as head coach, the All Blacks escaped with a knife-edge one-point victory against England in Dunedin. While the venue is the same, on many fronts this year is different. From the extended management to incumbent players, a vastly greater shared understanding and cohesion is carried through from Robertson's shaky year one to the start of year two. The mood emanating from the All Blacks camp this week is much calmer compared to this time last year. And, of course, there's the significantly weaker opposition… French done before the start line? Averaging 14 test caps per player, and with much of their elite talent left at home following their Top 14 domestic final, there's every reason to suggest France are a puncher's chance at best against the All Blacks. Fabien Galthié has named eight rookies in his 23-man squad for this first test – five in the starting team. They include Bayonne first five-eighths Joris Segonds, loose forward Alexandre Fischer, lock Tyler Duguid, wing Tom Spring and prop Giorgi Beria. South African-born Jacobus van Tonder, Paul Mallez and Regis Montagne will debut off the bench too. Midfielder Gaël Fickou will captain France in Dunedin. Photo / Photosport Gaël Fickou, the classy 94-test veteran, captains the French from the midfield. Toulon wing Gabin Villiere, starting tighthead prop Rabah Slimani (57 caps) and towering lock Romain Taofifenua, who will emerge from the bench, boost overall experience, but there is no escaping the green, developmental French B side. Racing 92 halfback Nolann le Garrec is one to watch in a French backline typically stacked with attacking strike. But after one warm-up match against a heavily depleted English side – due to their extensive British and Irish Lions contingent in Australia – this green team could well be exposed. Tall timber Missing first-choice props Tamaiti Williams and Tyrel Lomax is a blow for the All Blacks. While they won't lack scrummaging power, Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell do not boast the same mobility or deft ball skills. The All Blacks should, though, dominate the air. With three locks – Holland, captain Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa'i, there are no excuses for the All Blacks to not cleanly claim their restarts and lineouts. They should be able to target the French throws, too. Vaa'i, starting his first test at blindside flanker since the opening 2023 World Cup defeat to France in Paris, has trained on the side of the scrum for the past 10 days. Tupou Vaa'i in action against Argentina last year. Photo / Photosport With five loose forwards in their 33-man squad, the All Blacks were always light in this department, with Vaa'i and Barrett designated blindside cover. Few, if anyone, envisioned the All Blacks throwing Vaa'i straight into the No 6 jersey, though. It's unfair to compare anyone with Springboks enforcer Pieter-Steph du Toit, but that is clearly the prototype the All Blacks are seeking with their blindside – a big man capable of commanding the air and imposing a physical imprint around the field. Last year, Vaa'i proved he is evolving into a world-class lock. This weekend, he's asked to broaden his brief to project a modern, mobile, bruising blindside flanker. Injecting impact Finishing what they start sits at the forefront of the All Blacks' improvements this year. The composition of their bench, while inexperienced this week, points to their desire for notable impact. Come the second half, if the French remain in the contest, they will be wary of the power and pace the All Blacks unleash from their ever-evolving bench. Damian McKenzie has a point to prove with Beauden Barrett preferred as starting playmaker. As fatigue sets in, McKenzie will be at his lethal, game-breaking best. When the All Blacks want to lift the tempo further in the closing quarter, Cortez Ratima's speed to the base will be injected. Quinn Tupaea, ahead of his first test in four years, promises to bring the midfield punch he displayed for the Chiefs all season. Quinn Tupaea makes a break against the USA. Photo / Photosport Kirifi's turnover prowess should provide opportunities to pounce on the counterattack against a disjointed defence. He will be itching for his long-awaited debut and must, therefore, harness the same controlled decision-making that typified his leadership with the Hurricanes. Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho, returning for his first test since the World Cup final, rookie prop Ollie Norris, Pasilio Tosi and Samipeni Finau round out the quartet of mobile, powerful forwards aiming to add a blend of power and offloading the French may struggle to contain. Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast. For live commentary of this weekend's All Blacks v France test, go to GOLD SPORT or iHeartRadio.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Ulster coach Richie Murphy reveals why Challenge Cup draw will be a benefit to his young side
The province have been placed in a pool with bitter French rivals Racing 92 and Stade Francais Paris, the latter of whom Ulster fans will remember bitterly after the unsavoury eye gouge incident in their last meeting in 2009, as well as ex-Pro14 side the Cheetahs, former European champions Exeter Chiefs and Welsh outfit Cardiff. While it is not the competition Ulster want to be in, having missed out on the top-tier Champions Cup after finishing 14th in the United Rugby Championship last season, it is still a tough pool draw for Murphy's men. The fixtures are yet to be determined, with Ulster set to face only four of their five pool rivals — the province are likeliest not to face Cardiff due to them being a fellow URC team — but there is the possibility of two trips to Paris in December and January, or a first ever trip to Amsterdam, where the Cheetahs are based despite being from Bloemfontein in South Africa. While they avoided the likes of a trip to Georgia or some less familiar French sides in the draw, Murphy says is excited to pit his squad against some recognisable faces, and he is hopeful that some full-blooded European ties will do his squad some good. 'We're really excited for what lies ahead in the Challenge Cup. Being drawn alongside some top-quality opposition gives us a brilliant challenge and a great opportunity to test ourselves against teams we don't face week in, week out,' said the head coach, who is going into his second full season in charge. 'It's a new mix of styles and environments that will challenge the squad and excite our supporters. European competitions are always incredibly tough, and we're really looking forward to getting stuck in.' Even though they have dropped down into the Challenge Cup, there is no doubting the draw could have been much kinder for Ulster, who have been handed a former European champion, a three-time Champions Cup finalist and two former Challenge Cup champions in their pool. Racing 92 are the big draw with the galactico squad at their disposal that contains the likes of France captain Gaël Fickou and fellow internationals Demba Bamba, Nolann le Garrec and Cameron Woki, as well as incoming Australian prop Taniela Tupou. The two sides have met as recently as December 2023 when Ulster triumphed 31-15 at Ravenhill in a Champions Cup clash, with this meeting the fourth in the pair's history. There will be plenty of Ulster fans who will be eagerly anticipating the rematch with Stade Francais after the pair's infamous last meeting in 2009 when Stephen Ferris was eye-gouged by David Attoub, who received a 70-week ban for his actions. No longer a European powerhouse, the Parisians still boast a strong squad led by mercurial French full-back Léo Barré and will be a stern test for this young Ulster squad. The Cheetahs will be an intriguing prospect, too, the South Africans playing their home matches in Amsterdam as opposed to Bloemfontein, with Ulster set for their first meeting with the former Pro14 side since they left the League in 2020. And there will be a quick rematch with Exeter, whom Ulster defeated at Ravenhill back in January to book their place in the last-16 of the Champions Cup, in the pool stages as well, Rob Baxter's former European champions having fallen away in recent years but still a threat thanks to the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade and Ross Vintcent. How they line-up 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup Pool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Stade Rochelais, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL Stormers Pool 4: Union Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Section Paloise, Northampton Saints, Vodacom Bulls 2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht Rugby Pool 2: Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, Benetton Rugby, Lions, USAP Pool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby 2025/26 weekends Round 1: 5/6/7 December 2025 Round 2: 12/13/14 December 2025 Round 3: 9/10/11 January 2026 Round 4: 16/17/18 January 2026 Round of 16: 3/4/5 April 2026 Quarter-Finals: 10/11/12 April 2026 Semi-Finals: 1/2/3 May 2026 EPCR Challenge Cup Final: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Friday 22 May
