QF2: New Zealand v France, 17 October

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NEW ZEALAND v FRANCE

17 October 2015
KO: 20:00 BST (UTC+01)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Live on telly

Ref: Nigel Owens (Wales)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and John Lacey (Ireland)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

A. Head to Head

55 Played 55
42 Won 12
1 Drawn 1
12 Lost 42
1,345 Points 713

B. Recent Form

9 November 2013
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
19 – 26 to New Zealand

22 June 2013
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
24 – 9 to New Zealand

15 June 2013
Rugby League Park, Christchurch
30 – 0 to New Zealand

8 June 2013
Eden Park, Auckland
23 – 13 to New Zealand

23 October 2011
Eden Park, Auckland
8 – 7 to New Zealand

24 September 2011
Eden Park, Auckland
37 – 17 to New Zealand

28 November 2009
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
12 – 39 to New Zealand

20 June 2009
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
14 – 10 to New Zealand

13 June 2009
Carisbrook, Dunedin
22 – 27 to France

6 October 2007
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
18 – 20 to France

C. TEAMS:

NEW ZEALAND

Ben Smith; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams

FRANCE

Scott Spedding; Noa Nakaitaci, Alexandre Dumoulin, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin; Frederic Michalak, Morgan Parra; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Bernard Le Roux, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Damien Chouly, Yannick Nyanga, Rory Kockott, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud

That Carter fend never fails to drop a defender. France are really losing their structure and discipline. Hard to resist this NZ momentum though

nathan wrote:

Riskysports wrote:Did Crockett just drop an elbow

On the player getting treatment?

Yes. Did look like it. Might be mistaken though

This Kiwi bias is absolutely incredible.

nathan wrote:How was macaw not pinged there!

He was tackler. Owens even said it

New Zealand are excellent. Wish their lazy running shenanigans would get penalised though

Riskysports wrote:

nathan wrote:

Riskysports wrote:Did Crockett just drop an elbow

On the player getting treatment?

Yes. Did look like it. Might be mistaken though

That's the trouble with Owens, he's a very momentum ref

Need a french try here for the good of the game, from a french and neutral point of view.

We potentially have one Westy

Game on!

May not necessarily be a blow out... but it does seem likely. NZ playing deadly rugby.

What was the score at HT in '99? ......24-10?

Not saying it will happen again but the ABs have looked strong... huge 1st half effort.
France look different to last week with some ball in hand and a few decent forays. Now a try....

Thats more like it....Picamoles is really up for it compared to last week

Incredible from Savea!

To easy!

watching this game. its obvious why NZ hate wayne barnes. he wont let NZ get away with their awfully cynical play at the breakdown

Jonah Lomu esque

Lomu circa 95. Awesome try

NZ try, Just knocked the numerous frenchman out the way

France have got nothing to lose. Game on.

Savea with a Lomu-esque try bumping off tacklers. Wow!

Oooooh. Feet first

Bollox...Smith lead with the foot in the contest....

Savea is an absolute beast of a player isn't he? All Blacks look pretty scary when they get the ball to him or Milner-Skudder in a bit of space.

Don't think pre-match predictions of New Zealand by some distance are going to be far off the mark!

Spedding just got his manhood taken from him

Game of the tournament by far

Pretty good half

owens should never be allowed to ref NZ. he just isnt strict enough at the tackle area and breakdown.

Great winger's try. Hope North/Cuthbert were watching.

this game is not that great. eirebilly what are you talking about?

france cannot win this match. because owens doesnt penalise NZ slowing the ball down, which they will do all day long being 2 scores ahead. i hate it.

eirebilly wrote:Game of the tournament by far

Better than Japan/South Africa?

Not a chance!

quinsforever wrote:this game is not that great. eirebilly what are you talking about?

I am sorry for enjoying this game o.O

nathan wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Game of the tournament by far

Better than Japan/South Africa?

Not a chance!

Wales - Australia for me.

Shame on you eirebilly, tut tut.

It's been absolutely superb. The 'I Hate the All Blacks' brigade will do their usual moaning but the rest of us are just going to sit back and enjoy! Just think, SBW is coming on in the second half. This could be 50+.

quinsforever wrote:this game is not that great. eirebilly what are you talking about?

Well when you watch it with the sole purpose of finding indiscretion then of course ot's not going to be great.

There's been some brilliant rugby

5 better matches than this one so far at the RWC

Some great play from the Blacks - Clinical and powerful

The individual skill that has been shown in this match has been brilliant. I am a neutral but I am enjoying this one.

George Carlin wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Anyone got a link for me please?

Sent you what I have

quinsforever wrote:5 better matches than this one so far at the RWC

perhaps it will improve in the second half?

It's been brilliant, the casual fans who might switch on at prime time will be loving this

Unbelievable display of handling and finishing from the ABs, got to give France credit too

BamBam wrote:It's been brilliant, the casual fans who might switch on at prime time will be loving this

Unbelievable display of handling and finishing from the ABs, got to give France credit too

This is good for the game, people tend to enjoy watching tries more than watching players kick the ball over some posts

Notch wrote:It's been absolutely superb. The 'I Hate the All Blacks' brigade will do their usual moaning but the rest of us are just going to sit back and enjoy! Just think, SBW is coming on in the second half. This could be 50+.

Yup - awesome display of total rugby. Speed AND precision. about 4 steps ahed of anyone else in the WC.

Simply stunning

quinsforever wrote:5 better matches than this one so far at the RWC

Maybe - but better rugby?

eirebilly wrote:

quinsforever wrote:this game is not that great. eirebilly what are you talking about?

I am sorry for enjoying this game o.O

For goodness sake eirebilly, sort yourself out man! Stop enjoying all these wonderful tries.

still a half to go..but better "matches"

eng v wales
wal v aus
japan vs SA
SA vs Wales
Sco vs Samoa

better clinical rugby no doubt. but the original comment was about best match.

Still not writing off a 99 style French come back

New Zealand are awesome... By the way, did anybody else just hear "The Fields of Athenry" being belted from the stands?

France on the ascendancy - one more try and this could get interesting!