France vs NZ match thread

[Taylorman]

First topic message reminder :

Some key stats for the match...some very interesting reading with some of this...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5674519/Key-stats-ahead-of-France-v-All-Blacks-match
Teams have been posted earlier so I wont repeat them here...

Key facts and figures for the Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool A match between New Zealand and France at, Eden Park tomorrow.

Pool scenario

- If France win this match, they are guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup 2011.

- New Zealand would also almost certainly go through with a victory here and in that case could only be stopped by Canada taking maximum points (including bonus points) in their last two pool matches against Japan and the All Blacks.

- Canada would also have to ensure victory over New Zealand by more than seven points and keep the All Blacks from scoring four tries.

Head-to-head

- This is the 50th Test match between New Zealand and France. New Zealand have won 36, France have won 12 and there has been one draw.

- It is their fifth meeting at the Rugby World Cup, which will make this one of the most common RWC match-ups, equal to New Zealand v Italy, New Zealand v Scotland, England v Australia and Australia v Ireland.- France and New Zealand play each other at the fourth successive Rugby World Cup. The only other fixture to take place at four RWC tournaments in a row is New Zealand v Scotland at the first four Rugby World Cups.

- France and New Zealand have won two matches each against each other at Rugby World Cups but France have won both of the fixtures played before the finals weekend. The All Blacks have beaten France in the 1987 final and the 2003 bronze final.

- France have won four of the 23 matches between the two played in New Zealand. Only Australia (17), South Africa (nine) and the British (& Irish) Lions (6) have won more times in New Zealand than the French but all three have played at least 15 matches more here.

- France have won two of the last three Tests between the two which have been played outside France, winning the Rugby World Cup 2007 quarter-final 20-18 in Cardiff and the 2009 Test in Dunedin 27-22.

- However, New Zealand have won the last two Tests between the two, in Wellington (14-10) and Marseille (39-12).

- France's win in Dunedin in 2009 was the first match in which they were captained by Thierry Dusautoir.

- Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu and Richie McCaw will all play their 10th Test against France, joining 10 other players from SANZAR nations to have done this, a list led by Sean Fitzpatrick (NZL) and John Kirwan (NZL) with 12.

- Mealamu and McCaw can both achieve their ninth victory against France, one short of the record of 10 by a SANZAR player, set by Gary Whetton (NZL) between 1981 and 1990.

- Dan Carter has scored 106 Test points against France and needs 21 more to break the record by a SANZAR player; 126 by Michael Lynagh (AUS).

- Ma'a Nonu has scored four of his Test tries against France, the joint fourth most by an All Black.

- Damien Traille will join 10 other France players who have played against the All Blacks on at least 10 occasions. Traille has been on the winning side twice against New Zealand, two short of the France record of four.

Ad Feedback - France were the last team to beat New Zealand at Eden Park, doing so in 1994.

- France and New Zealand share the Rugby World Cup record of most semi-final appearances (five).

New Zealand

- Ranked No.1 on the IRB World Rankings
- New Zealand are the only team to have won all of their Rugby World Cup pool matches (22).

- New Zealand are the only team at RWC 2011 who have not trailed at any point in their tournament matches so far.

- New Zealand are the highest-scoring team in Rugby World Cup history, having scored 1,752 points in their 37 matches, an average of 47.4 points per game.

- New Zealand have scored 238 Rugby World Cup tries, 81 more than second-placed Australia.

- New Zealand have scored at least one try in their past 91 Tests and in 97 of the 98 Tests coached by Graham Henry.

- Graham Henry's 84.7 per cent winning record coaching New Zealand is the best for any coach of a major nation in the professional era. His predecessor John Mitchell's record of 82.1 per cent is the only other above 80 per cent.

- New Zealand have lost to only South Africa, Australia and France during Henry's reign and have a winning record against all three.

- New Zealand have won their last 12 Test matches at home, a winning streak that goes back more than two years, since South Africa beat them 32-29 in Hamilton on 12 September 2009.

- Under Graham Henry, New Zealand have lost only three home Test matches, against South Africa (twice) and France.

- Graham Henry coaches a team in a Rugby World Cup match for the 12th time, breaking the record for the most by a New Zealander and the joint second most by anyone. Only Bernard Laporte (FRA) has coached in more RWC matches (14).

France

- Ranked No.5 on the IRB World Rankings, having dropped a place since the beginning of the Rugby World Cup.

- France are one of only three teams to have lost fewer than two Rugby World Cup pool matches. Opponents New Zealand have lost none; South Africa and France have lost one each.

- For the third time in RWC history a French campaign is being led by a head coach who is a former French RWC player, following the 1991 campaign under Daniel Dubroca (FRA) and their 1995 tournament under Pierre Berbizier (FRA).

The venue

- Eden Park hosted five matches during Rugby World Cup 1987, with New Zealand and France winning two matches each and Romania one.

- New Zealand have played three Rugby World Cup matches at Eden Park, two at RWC 1987 and one at RWC 2011, winning by a minimum of 20 points each time. Their closest match there was the 29-9 victory against France in the final of Rugby World Cup 1987.

- Eden Park will host 11 matches at RWC 2011, two Pool A matches, one match in each of the other three pools and then two quarter-finals, both semi-finals, the bronze final and the final. Its total of 16 RWC matches will be a record, surpassing Murrayfield's mark of 13.

- The All Blacks have won their last 23 Tests at Eden Park since an 18-18 draw against South Africa in August 1994.

- France are the last team to beat New Zealand at Eden Park, in July 1994. That match is also New Zealand's only defeat at Eden Park in the past 25 years, since Australia won there in September 1986.

- The All Blacks have collected 21 wins from as many attempts at Eden Park in the professional era (1996-2011).

- If New Zealand reach the semi-finals they are guaranteed to play five matches at Eden Park, which will equal Scotland's record of playing five matches at Murrayfield at Rugby World Cups 1991 and 1999.

The line-ups

- New Zealand have made four changes from the team that beat Japan 83-7 last weekend.

- Captain Richie McCaw returns from injury and will win his 100th cap and is the only player change in the pack. Adam Thomson switches back to number 8 to accommodate McCaw and Victor Vito drops out of the 22.

- Andy Ellis and Colin Slade are replaced by Piri Weepu and Dan Carter while Israel Dagg is also back from injury at full back in place of Isaia Toeava.

- McCaw will be the first All Black to reach a century of caps and the 19th from all rugby playing countries. McCaw is one of three players at Rugby World Cup 2011 who can win their 100th cap during the tournament. Teammate Mils Muliaina and Australia's Nathan Sharpe with 98 and 96 caps respectively are the others.

- The All Black XV for Saturday's match is full of experience, boasting 727 caps among them. There have been only three more experienced All Blacks teams, in the two Tri Nations matches against Australia last month and the 2010 Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong.

- New Zealand's most experienced line-up, which beat Australia 30-14 at Eden Park last month, had only 39 caps more than the XV selected to play France on Saturday.

- Three of the team - Tony Woodcock, McCaw and Carter - also started the Rugby World Cup 2007 quarter-final match against France. Andrew Hore and Ali Williams, who have been named among the replacements for this weekend's match, also played in that match.

- France have selected an experienced starting XV with 634 caps. Since Rugby World Cup 2007, they have played only one match with a XV with more caps. That was in March when a team with 646 caps in the starting XV lost to Italy in the Six Nations championship.

- France coach Marc Lièvremont has made five player changes and two positional changes to the team that beat Canada 46-19 last Sunday.

- Hooker Dmitri Szarzewski makes his Rugby World Cup 2011 debut in place of William Servat, Lionel Nallet and Thierry Dusautoir return in place of Romain Millo-Chluski and Fulgence Ouedraogo.

- In the backs, Trinh-Duc and centre David Marty drop out of the XV with their places being taken by players switching positions: Parra to fly half and Aurélien Rougerie moving back to outside centre. Dimitri Yachvili and Maxime Médard are selected at scrum half and left wing respectively.

- Morgan Parra makes his first start for France at fly half, having played parts of the matches against Japan and Canada in that position.

- Parra will become the second player ever to start Rugby World Cup matches at both scrum half and fly half after Taniela Moa became the first last week. The Tongan started at scrum half in the 41-10 defeat by the All Blacks and switched to fly half for the 25-20 defeat by Canada.

- Parra will be the sixth player to start for France at both scrum half and fly half but only the third post-war player to have played in both positions in the French team.

- The most recent was Frédéric Michalak with three of his first four starts for France at scrum half before he reverted to his more familar position in the French team. Jean-Louis Berot, who won 21 caps for France between 1968 and 1974, is the other post-war player to start in both positions. His first four starts for France were at scrum half, after which he moved to the No 10 position for his other 17 caps.

- Eight of France's 22 on Saturday played some part in the 20-18 victory over the All Blacks at Rugby World Cup 2007. They are Szarzewski, Poux, Bonnaire, Dusautoir, Harinordoquy, Heymans, Clerc and Traille. Dusautoir scored France's first try in the match.


The referee

- Alain Rolland (IRE) has been named as the referee for a record 12th Rugby World Cup match. He will be equalled by Jonathan Kaplan, who will referee his 12th RWC match next Tuesday when Canada take

[eirebilly]

Morning all, can someone please pm me a link if you have one?

Thanking you kindly

[Guest]

That was too easy for NZ there.

Rodders - hardly!

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Beautiful pass from Weepu. Jane with too much pace cutting through the middle and making his way out. Good to see Jane get a try. NZ look on song. Poor France defence but I hope the French come back here. This is looking ominous.

[Cari]

Looks like Carter could get his 100th point in world cup rugby at this rate...

[Cowshot]

Ok, settle down France. Play a few phases. Medard isn't up to this close physical stuff.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Brilliant by Smith there. French backs look to be bullied by NZ. Their forwards look good but they´re getting punished in the backs.

[rodders]

Medard is having a nightmare out there!

Picamoles is some player though.

[Guest]

france have been poor so far new zealand right on top.

[BATH_BTGOG]

this is pathetic from France

[Cari]

Au revoir!

I wonder if France can make a comeback like they did with previous games....won't be easy against the ABs though!

It's gonna be a long night for the French...

19 - 0.

[PJHolybloke]

I've only got NZ by 21

Whatcha got Biltong? Huh? Whatcha got?

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Brilliant by Carter. They´re getting schooled in the French backs. Come on. Give us a game!

[Cymroglan]

Poor defending good try

[Guest]

ooh my wonderful French men. Knew they would suffer for not getting points early on. They need to regroup and badly. They just aren't switched on in defence much at all. C'mon France, you know you can do it! They just need to get some points on the board to settle.

[Cowshot]

Bleh.

[rodders]

French heads are down. The demolition job is on here!

I say NZ by 50 points.

[Taylorman]

looks like my prediction is right , NZ by 15

and the rest...
Talk about focussed

[Cari]

I can't remember what I predicted....must check...I didn't expect a demolition job.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

This is awful by France. Miss the kick off. French are so flakey when they get behind. They just need to suck it up, get some phases going and try to gain ascendancy in the forwards.

[Biltong]

France are never going to stop the All Blacks if they have a stationary defensive line. Never. the All Black back line is under no pressure.

[BATH_BTGOG]

My sportguru pick was NZ by 9pts

[Cari]

Dreamer - your prediction of a dull match could be correct if France carry on like this. It'll be very one-sided. They started so well in the first few minutes as well.

[rodders]

French defence is all over the shop now. Even dusitoir is falling off tackles. They are in for a pounding here.

[eirebilly]

I guess this blows all those "AB's will want to lose" theories out of the water.

[Guest]

did I say it was going to be dull? ha I don't remember half the stuff I post on here!

C'mon France, focus, focus, you can do it.

[Cymroglan]

France looks like the side that wants to lose.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Come on France sort it out!

Weepu has started well here. France just have to compose themselves. They look stunned. French crowd trying to inspire their team.

[Cari]

did I say it was going to be dull? ha I don't remember half the stuff I post on here!

C'mon France, focus, focus, you can do it.

You said something about you feared the match would be a bit of a letdown...when everyone was expecting a corker.

[rodders]

French back row has gone to sleep.

[Guest]

so much pace from israel dagg

[Cymroglan]

Cari I think it was me who said in the pub that this could be a classic or a match full of errors due to both sides trying too hard.

[rodders]

Brilliant from Dagg! Twinkletoes!

[Cari]

France lucky there...Dagg or Nonu could've been in again.

[Guest]

did I say it was going to be dull? ha I don't remember half the stuff I post on here!

C'mon France, focus, focus, you can do it.

You said something about you feared the match would be a bit of a letdown...when everyone was expecting a corker.

aha, a wise comment I have to say

Don't see how anyone can suggest France want to lost this after the first 10 mins by them, that was a side that wants to win this match and badly.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

They fluffed a certain try there with lazy and inaccurate passing. Amazing acceleration by Dagg. He looks good. Has done nothing wrong so far. But France need to put pressure on them.

[rodders]

France are gone. No one wants the ball and their defence is all over the place.

[Cari]

Cari I think it was me who said in the pub that this could be a classic or a match full of errors due to both sides trying too hard.

Dreamer definitely said something too because I agreed with her that the game could easily be a damp squib, but I hoped it wasn't.

[eirebilly]

France are trying to get back in the game

[Cowshot]

France started well, but took their eye off the ABs for half a second and bam. Three times. A salutary lesson.

Nice kicks from Yachvili.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Medard is getting targeted there. He has just been smashed on repeated occasions. France look out on their feet. It´s like they´ve been in a boxing match.

[Cymroglan]

France always look like that.

[perand25]

Call me cynical but i think the French are not even trying .

[rodders]

This reminds me of Rocky IV when Apollo Creed fought Ivan Drago.

[Cari]

Hopefully France will find their second wind as they have done previously. They really don't want to make it easy for the ABs to get a BP win.

[rodders]

NZ destroying them at the breakdown. The French runners are just getting isolated and NZ are turning them over with ease.

[Cari]

what?! Why is Corey jane coming off for Sonny Show Pony? FFS. I'm assuming he's got an injury (hope not).

[kiakahaaotearoa]

They were certainly trying early on. They just are being outmuscled, particularly in the backs and they´re getting dominated. That was another classic example. Medard goes to deck and ABs blow France off the ball.

Why is SBW coming on to the field now?!! This is crazy by Ted if there´s no injury.

[Cari]

Kia - yeah Jane was having a good game. If that was supposed to be a tactical sub it was silly.

Concern for Szarzewski...seems OK though.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

thorn has looked good. He needs a good game as of late he hasn´t been so physical.

[Cari]

Oh! Forward pass Carter...that could've been another try as well.

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