All Blacks v France I
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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.
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@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.
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@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.
@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.
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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
@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 -
@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@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 teamDon’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]” -
@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@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 teamI 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 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
Reiko 11, Vaa'i 6
Does that mean Holland starts? That would be ballsy.
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@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
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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.
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fuck being a professional rugby player aye? you could be the best left wing or blindside in the country....and they start someone whos played 13 for years and a lock :cat_face_with_tears_of_joy:
you'd have to take it personally
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@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
@Bones just saying my mail and he said his contact is around 80 percent correct.
"just saying my mail"?
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@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
Reiko 11, Vaa'i 6
Does that mean Holland starts? That would be ballsy.
@nostrildamus I think they really, really like Holland. It really wouldn't surprise me if Vaa'i starts 6 especially when most of the French backrow seem to be Locks......
