All Blacks v France
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Some thoughts on the French after their game against Japan:
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I know it’s only Japan so it’s probably hard to get excited by that game as a French player but I thought the whole team still looked incredibly discouraged. Heads down, lack of communication, nobody smiling after the game. It was the same during the Six Nations, so it seems they’re still in a funk after the loss in the quarter-final. They’ll be targeting this game against the All Blacks as a way to get out of it.
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Antoine Dupont was remarkably loose in this game: passes hitting the ground, flip passes around the back to unexpecting players, going quickly after a penalty when it wasn’t on. After a penalty was reversed in favour of France, he took the ball and kicked quickly to catch the Japanese off guard, only for him to completely miss touch, leading to a Japanese counter-attack. Very different to the player of a couple of years ago, who could go 5 games in a row without making a single mistake. I don’t think the constant hype is really helping him.
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The breakdown is going to be crucial. The French are relentless in attacking the ball, and they have loads of players who can successfully poach. The ABs are going to have to prioritize securing their own ball first, before playing expansively, as the French backline with Dupont, Bielle-Biarrey, Penaud (who didn’t play this week but will be next) and Ramos are deadly on the counter-attack.
So the French are still in a post-World Cup rut but will be looking to get out of it against the ABs. Should be another great game in what has already been a terrific series of November internationals.
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"Antoine Dupont can nearly do it all on the pitch which is why the All Blacks, and potential opposite Cam Roigard, must have a plan, writes Patrick McKendry."
What? Top teams need a plan? This is extraordinary!
The perspicacious insight of journalists these days is exhilarating! -
@Mauss said in All Blacks v France:
the whole team still looked incredibly discouraged
They're French. I fully expect them to France at the drop of a hat.
@booboo said in All Blacks v France:
@Mauss said in All Blacks v France:
the whole team still looked incredibly discouraged
They're French. I fully expect them to France at the drop of a hat.
Bless the Fern, I'm learning new verbs all the time!
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks v France:
Antoine Dupont can nearly do it all on the pitch which is why the All Blacks, and potential opposite Cam Roigard, must have a plan.
Chuck Connors might need a plan against Du Pont, but it's Roigard we're talking about here.
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AJ Lam is already with the squad.
Otherwise, potentially a loosie/lock or two to hold tackle bags. Oli Haig and Fabian Holland are options but it's really anyone's guess. Haig was left out of Sunday's All Blacks XV team which could be read one of two ways. Holland was benched and is similar.
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks v France:
Are we going DM back at 10 or is BB and CT making their way back via the bench?
100% they start DMac Staggering if they don’t
CT a possible starter.. But I hope used off the bench.
@voodoo said in All Blacks v France:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks v France:
Are we going DM back at 10 or is BB and CT making their way back via the bench?
100% they start DMac Staggering if they don’t
CT a possible starter.. But I hope used off the bench.
Aumua has had a massive workload recently and Taylor has consistently been one of the all blacks best. He goes back to starting. Increases the potency of the bench as well
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France:
@canefan said in All Blacks v France:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks v France:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v France:
@MN5
Our forward pack is starting to look rather fearsome.
How the heck did we make it to here.It was always going that way once we got a better props in De Groot and Lomax. The fact that we have real depth now at prop is a great foundation to build a pack on. With Sititi coming out of nowhere and Holland on the horizon, the AB pack can become outstanding over the next 12-18 months
Add in Lakai for Cane and if he can make strides as fast as Wallace, we could be young and dynamic very quickly
Yeah I'd have Lakai on the bench against France. He can cover 6,7,8 if needed as well. He could be the perfect bench player for us over the next few seasons until Ardie's form drops right off and he takes his place.
A bench of forwards that include Aumua, Tu'ungafasi, Tosi, Tuipolotu and Lakai going forward is pretty damn impactful.
And Proctor in the backs
@BerniesCorner
Proctor is not in France but in NZ for the birth of his child. -
@voodoo said in All Blacks v France:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks v France:
Are we going DM back at 10 or is BB and CT making their way back via the bench?
100% they start DMac Staggering if they don’t
CT a possible starter.. But I hope used off the bench.
Aumua has had a massive workload recently and Taylor has consistently been one of the all blacks best. He goes back to starting. Increases the potency of the bench as well
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks v France:
@voodoo said in All Blacks v France:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks v France:
Are we going DM back at 10 or is BB and CT making their way back via the bench?
100% they start DMac Staggering if they don’t
CT a possible starter.. But I hope used off the bench.
Aumua has had a massive workload recently and Taylor has consistently been one of the all blacks best. He goes back to starting. Increases the potency of the bench as well
He hasn't had that heavy a workload - three Tests in three weeks and one was against Japan.
He's finally coming right with a string of long games so might as well give him the opportunity to keep building. Adding Taylor to the bench strengthens it too!
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This one is for Sam Cane
I hope he runs out first@BerniesCorner hearing Cane has been ruled out of Sundays game along with Mark Telea
Du Plessis Kirifi ,Fabien Holland & Chay Fihaki bought into the squad .
Hope this oil is wrong -
@BerniesCorner hearing Cane has been ruled out of Sundays game along with Mark Telea
Du Plessis Kirifi ,Fabien Holland & Chay Fihaki bought into the squad .
Hope this oil is wrong@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks v France:
@BerniesCorner hearing Cane has been ruled out of Sundays game along with Mark Telea
Du Plessis Kirifi ,Fabien Holland & Chay Fihaki bought into the squad .
Hope this oil is wrongnah it's on another thread - insta confirmed by AB official post sorry. Good for Fabian
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@nzzp heard that Dalton is back in NZ , thats seriously weird
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@Bones the Chay Fihaki selection beggers belief but i guess Razors sees something many of us cant see..
Personally i would rather they pushed Reiko out to wing and ALB into centre as opposed to pushing Fihaki onto the wing or better still AJ Lam
Of all Razors selections Fihaki and Bell grate me the most -
@Bones the Chay Fihaki selection beggers belief but i guess Razors sees something many of us cant see..
Personally i would rather they pushed Reiko out to wing and ALB into centre as opposed to pushing Fihaki onto the wing or better still AJ Lam
Of all Razors selections Fihaki and Bell grate me the most@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks v France:
@Bones the Chay Fihaki selection beggers belief but i guess Razors sees something many of us cant see..
Personally i would rather they pushed Reiko out to wing and ALB into centre as opposed to pushing Fihaki onto the wing or better still AJ Lam
Of all Razors selections Fihaki and Bell grate me the mostThey will go for Reece no doubt. Like you, I don't know what they see in Fihaki. Naholo or Stevenson are better choices imo.
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@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks v France:
@Bones the Chay Fihaki selection beggers belief but i guess Razors sees something many of us cant see..
Personally i would rather they pushed Reiko out to wing and ALB into centre as opposed to pushing Fihaki onto the wing or better still AJ Lam
Of all Razors selections Fihaki and Bell grate me the mostThey will go for Reece no doubt. Like you, I don't know what they see in Fihaki. Naholo or Stevenson are better choices imo.
@akan004 forgot about Reece
