All Blacks v France I

sparky

Likely French 23 according to Chat GTP and after a few reminders about who isn't in New Zealand.

Damba
Bourgarit
Slimani
Taofifenua
Guillard
Woki
Abadie
Tatafu
Le Garrec
Hastoy
Attisogbe
Gailleton
Fickou (c)
Villère
Barré

Barlot
Beria
Montagne
Brennan
Fischer
Jauneau
Berdeu
Depoortère

Canes4life

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Time to start a match thread.

According to Chat GTP this will be the All Blacks team.

E. De Groot

S. Taukei'aho

T. Lomax

S. Barrett (c)

T. Vaa'i

S. Finau

D. Kirifi

A. Savea

C. Roigard

B. Barrett

C. Clarke

J. Barrett

B. Proctor

S. Reece

W. Jordan

C. Taylor

O. Norris

F. Newell

F. Holland

L. Jacobson

C. Ratima

D.McKenzie

R.Ioane

I'd be pretty happy with this lineup tbh. When is the side actually being named?

Mauss

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Tatafu

Well, tell it to keep on trying because (1) Tevita Tatafu isn't in the touring squad, and (2) the French-eligible Tatafu is the one from Bayonne who plays tighthead prop, not the Bordeaux number 8 who plays for Japan.

Also, it's Berdeu, not Bardou.

nzzp

Jesus., we can do better than AI slop right.

Doesn't seem the usual level of excitement for a French test on here. There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

Mauss

This is what the French press is predicting as the probable starting 15, which is genuinely a bonkers selection:

La compo probable du XV de France pour affronter la Nouvelle-Zélande : Erdocio, Barlot, Slimani - Auradou, Duguid - Fischer, Guillard, Tixeront, - Le Garrec, Segonds ou Hastoy - Fickou, Gailleton - Duguivalu, Attisogbé, Moustin ou Spring.

(source, French Eurosport: https://www.eurosport.fr/rugby/mickael-guillard-et-gael-fickou-en-tauliers-de-linexperimente-devant-la-compo-probable-du-xv-de-france-pour-affronter-les-all-blacks_sto23197544/story.shtml)

So that's Guillard at 8, the Canadian Duguid at lock, uncapped loosehead Erdocio from Montpellier, Fijian Duguivalu (also uncapped) on the wing, Spring or Moustin at fullback.

That's pretty wild.

Bovidae

@Canes4life said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

When is the side actually being named?

Thursday, of course.

sparky

https://twitter.com/TightFive_Rugby/status/1939975468339302570

Anyone know anything about these lads apart from one is Irish?

sparky

@Mauss Chat GTP really couldn't get its artificial intelligence around this French squad. Based on the Twickenham game against England A ten days ago which the France team one, the French should start and finish the game well on Saturday but the ABs should be too good for the middle part of the match.

sparky

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Jesus., we can do better than AI slop right.

We will. But only once the teams are named.

sparky

@Mauss Big set of forwards..........

Mauss

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@Mauss Big set of forwards..........

They're definitely tall, both Tixeront and Guillard are 1.95m+ loose forwards. The plan might be to go after the (likely) undersized AB back five at lineouts and restarts.

But they are incredibly inexperienced, though. The starting 15 would have an average age of 25 with an average of 14 caps across the starting side. And that average is strongly lifted by the presence of Slimani (57 caps) and Fickou (94 caps). None of the other players have more than 10 Test caps.

The ABs need to put pressure on this side from the opening whistle and try to make the match as uncomfortable as possible right from the start.

sparky

@Mauss Le Garrec, Fickou and Attisogbe are all quality players who were key parts of the 2025 French Six Nations squad.

The rest are either guys coming back to international rugby after a long break or players with zero or almost zero international experience.

The All Blacks really should win this game relatively comfortably.

taniwharugby

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

Pitchforks will be out regardless....ABs are in a no win situation for this game.

Thrash them - played shit, poor skills, poor decisions
Close win - should have thrashed them
Loss - should have thrashed this shit French team

ACT Crusader

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

Pitchforks will be out regardless....ABs are in a now win situation for this game.

Thrash them - played shit, poor skills, poor decisions
Close win - should have thrashed them
Loss - should have thrashed this shit French team

Don’t forget if we play and win well there will be the

“we’ve shown our hand too early”
“it all matters what we do against the Boks”
“we should’ve blooded [insert any name that wasn’t selected]”

nostrildamus

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

Pitchforks will be out regardless....ABs are in a no win situation for this game.

Thrash them - played shit, poor skills, poor decisions
Close win - should have thrashed them
Loss - should have thrashed this shit French team

I believe we won last 2 out of 5 against France.
If they send a B or C side, thrash em.
If they send an A side thrash em more... the cheese-eating surrender monkeys ..

george33

Reiko 11, Vaa'i 6

ARHS

Yuk for number 6. Best place for Ioane though. I thought those might be finishing options, not starting ones.

nostrildamus

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Reiko 11, Vaa'i 6

Does that mean Holland starts? That would be ballsy.

Kiwiwomble

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Reiko 11, Vaa'i 6

when Razor said Locks would cover 6....i thought he more meant late in the game after some subs.....not that he thought someone that has played more at lock than anywhere else....is better than any 6 we have in the country and will be starting

mariner4life

looool

i had decided that i would try just being a fan this year. What ever team was picked, i would support them, go team! and such.

And the first fucking leak has me already questioning that whole stance.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks v France I