All Blacks v France, 3rd Test, New Plymouth

Steve Hansen has taken the opportunity to bring two new players into the All Black family, Steve Luatua to cover 4, 5, and 6. and Charles Piutau to cover wings and fullback:

New Zealand

15. Israel Dagg
14. Ben Smith
13. Conrad Smith
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Rene Ranger
10. Dan Carter
9. Piri Weepu
8. Kieran Read (C)
7. Sam Cane
6. Victor Vito
5. Luke Romano
4. Sam Whitelock
3. Owen Franks
2. Andrew Hore
1. Wyatt Crockett

Replacements:
16 Mealamu, 17 Woodcock, 18 Franks B, 19 Todd, 20 Luatua, 21 Kerr-Barlow, 22 Barrett, 23 Piutau.


France

15. Brice Dulin
14. Marc Andreu
13. Florian Fritz
12. Wesley Fofana
11. Yoann Huget
10. Remi Tales
9. Jean Marc Doussain
8. Antonie Claassen
7. Damien Chouly
6. Thierry Dusautoir (C)
5. Yoann Maestri
4. Alexandre Flanquart
3. Nicolas Mas
2. Benjamin Kayser
1. Thomas Domingo

Replacements:
16 Szarzewski, 17 Ben Arous, 18 Vahaamahina, 19 Le Roux, 20 Machenaud, 21 Ducalcon, 22 Lopez, 23 Bastareaud.

I want Ben Smith to have a half at 13 and Luatua to have a half at 6. Bit disappointed they're not starting but I suppose we have to win the test first.

I understand your sentiments Disney but yes the winning of the game is paramount. Another difficulty has arisen in that New Zealand is currently being battered by a polar front and New Plymouth has been absolutely dumped with rain over the last 24 hours, something which will bring France closer.

8 changes for France : 

Dulin - Andreu, Fritz, Fofana, Huget - Talès, Doussain - Chouly, Claassen, Dusautoir (cap.) - Maestri, Flanquart - Mas, Kayser, Domingo.

Subs: Szarzewski, Ben Arous, Ducalcon, Vahaamahina, Le Roux, Machenaud, Lopez, Bastareaud



New fullback, new halfbacks and untested backrow / 2nd row. Not filling me with hope but at least they trying new players.

Yeah Laurie bringing in the Auckland players to a wet test doesnt make for the best outcome as theyre strongest when they chuck the ball around. Hansen would have been mad to leave Luatua out- potentially our best AB in the making (and with 12 the biggest hole to fill) but in the wet I hope he focuses more on the tight role rather than the 20/80 passes...

In terms of presence as a 6 on the field the most likely to match Kaino in 15.

The NH are yet to have their big annual SH scalp so lets home this aint it! They can get that in Oz:whistle:

Didnt realise Ranger was there as start...excellent...more the pity it'll be wet but after what he's done in the few minutes he's got so far, seeing him work his way in over 80 will be worth watching for that alone.

I cant see Ranger playing 80, although we are used to seeing Piutau playing fullback he has over the last few years played a lot of rugby on the wing.

I don't think Vito should be there as a 6. Luata is covering lock as well as 6 so I don't think he'll come on that early. Definitely want to see him at 6. We've been outplayed there by the French.

Wholesale changes from France as well. Caution could be thrown to the wind. Weather might though determine the gameplan.

I heard a really interesting interview with the AB's conditioning coach last week. He said it takes 2-3 years in the AB's environment to physically bring the players up. Luatua sounds like he has huge potential physically. Look forward to a different McCaw. Apparently he's taken the training time to dedelop his body towards more of a ball carrying role.

p.. The weather this weekend is probably going to be sh*$. So expect a real bunfight up front.

French team
15. Brice Dulin
14. Marc Andreu
13. Florian Fritz
12. Wesley Fofana
11. Yoann Huget
10. Remi Tales
9. Jean Marc Doussain
8. Antonie Claassen
7. Damien Chouly
6. Thierry Dusautoir
5. Yoann Maestri
4. Alexandre Flanquart
3. Nicolas Mas
2. Benjamin Kayser
1. Thomas Domingo


Replacements
16. Dimitri Szarzewski
17. Eddy Ben Arous, Luc Ducalcon
18. Sebastian Vahaamahina
19. Bernard Le Roux
20. Maxime Machenaud
22. Camille Lopez
23. Mathieu Bastareaud.

With Picamoles out (Read gave him a complete lesson in the position anyway last week) and 8 replacements, half through injury, and with the likes of Ranger starting this could be a 40 + event- perfect curtainraiser to the Lions match.

Weird to see McCaw looking fresh. Normally he's cut up and bruised all over in interviews

That Kiwi backline would give BOD and North nightmares.

France to win by 40.

Laurie, do you mind if I make this into the match thread?

Why does Carter seem to have a charge down kick every match he has?!

France break the duck. Look like they're keen to play today.

How did France not score there? Read with a huge tackle to get the ball back.

The French newbies going very well. France more than competitive so far. Whats with Nonu kicking every ball as well.

Some kiwi has 13+ to the ABs and 12- to the Lions for 30k for 64k...I think he'll get it...

Pretty unconvincing stuff there from NZ. Hope Luata comes on soon and Vito goes off. He's never convinced me at 6.

France coming up quick in the line and NZ need to be much flatter. 

French flyhalf is playing well. What a difference it makes if he attacks the line instead of the centres.

France need a goal kicker for the second half

PSA is giving team orders to kick the ball badly in order to justify Michalak in the team. 

Two kicks in off the post

I could have knocked over that last one!

Why can't the French 10 kick - they have already lost 6 pts and been pretty lucky with the other 6

French seem to have adjusted to their changes much better than NZ. Hansen might be reluctant to make changes for fear of further disrupting continuity but I think Vito needs to go off and we get a chance to see Luata. KB has been better than Weepu.

Should have been a YC for NZ for pulling back then

And now France are going to throw is away with a stupid yellow card for head butting

Credit to France though. Their younger replacements have fronted better than their seniors from last week.Just one of these games where not a lot is happening score wise- kicks included. Someones up for a 30k loss if things stay like this...

Definitely credit must go to the French defence. The only problem is that on attack they haven't done enough. Too much possession kicked away. But their defensive shape has remained strong throughout the game and NZ error rate has been high.

Credit to Nigel Owens who has used the advantage well and kept the game flowing. 

Pretty ugly win but 3-0 is secured and someone out there love Barrett! 30 k try!

Damage limitation from France. Kicking deep and never threatening to score a try. Immense defence but NZ look flat uninspired and uninterested. Ranger, Ben smith the only weapons out there tonight. Read has a shocker and Carter is slow, rusty and his pass is too soft.

I was really disappointed by Read in this series - miles from his best

I think there is a lot to work on. But I'm thinking positive. My positives are:
New caps introduced to test rugby
A new system passed another test
We managed to play running rugby in the wet against good opposition
A 15 point win over France is good by most other nations standards

I thought Dusotoir had an immense series.

Taylorman wrote:Some kiwi has 13+ to the ABs and 12- to the Lions for 30k for 64k...I think he'll get it...

That lucky guy was probably close to a nervous breakdown when beale missed that penalty

wales606 wrote:I was really disappointed by Read in this series - miles from his best

Where do these come from? Did you miss last weeks test. Read was immense, a complete man of the match performance and totally outclassed Picamoles...geeez,.

whocares wrote:

Taylorman wrote:Some kiwi has 13+ to the ABs and 12- to the Lions for 30k for 64k...I think he'll get it...

That lucky guy was probably close to a nervous breakdown when beale missed that penalty

I know- he could have lost it at the end of both matches, Beale has nailed matchwinners like that before as well so to fall over for 64k...he'll be laughing...if he survived the heart attack that is...