France vs NZ match thread

by Taylorman Fri 23 Sep 2011, 7:01 pm

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

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:39 am

If they were playing this in Paris now, the home fans would be booing in disgust.

No chance.....the AB backs are making the French look awful.

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

Brilliant stuff from the ABs!

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

Oh! That was close, and the ABs get the penalty...

by **Biltong** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

Every time the all blacks give an inside pass they make meters.

by Standulstermen Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

delightful reverse pass from Carter.

by kiakahaaotearoa Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:41 am

It´s the top inches that count rugbydreamer. France have been beaten mentally as well as physically. And the mental play has hurt them more.

by Guest Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:42 am

agree Kia, I just hate to see it.

Only Dusatoir and Rourgerie have shown up for France today.

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:43 am

The more tries the ABs score the worse it will be for England. Mark my words, France getting humiliated here is not good for whoever they face in the QF. Wink

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:43 am

Was there a bit of off-the-ball stuff at the back of the scrum there?

Can see the French look dejected though. They've got to keep on....a try would lift them.

by perand25 Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:43 am

The French forward just cant be bothered , so slow to the breakdown, half hearted tackles , Vincent Clerc is about the only one making an effort

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:43 am

Did someone say peaking too soon censored

by Cowshot Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:43 am

Very impressive all round performance from the ABs.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:45 am

rubbish swan dive

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:45 am

TOLD YOU!!!!! It's a-coming!!! Mermoz!

29 - 8 before conversion....the fightback in on... Wink

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:45 am

The comeback is on Yahoo

by Guest Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:45 am

wooo Mermoz! Good intercept try there! stupid dive to finish it off though.

by **Biltong** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:46 am

Cari wrote:TOLD YOU!!!!! It's a-coming!!! Mermoz!

29 - 8 before conversion....the fightback in on...

by **Notch** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:46 am

Very good reading of the game from Mermoz. Glad to see some respectability added to the scoreline!

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:46 am

Come on France, you've come back in your other matches, makes this a good 'un.

by kiakahaaotearoa Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:46 am

If they had scored those early points it could´ve been different. But once they conceded those tries the heads went down and the heart wasn´t in it. Hugely disappointing as this looked to be a great game initially.

France do make a comeback though. NZ fail to score with a scrum 5 metres out. France get an intercept try. Can that lift them mentally. I hope so. Let´s see how NZ react now.

by **Notch** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:46 am

NZ player had a few words for Mermoz's celebration laughing

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:47 am

Kia - to be honest, knowing the ABs, they'll get another try before long in reply. It helps that the French fans have woken up now by the sounds.

by Cowshot Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:48 am

Mark my words, France getting humiliated here is not good for whoever they face in the QF.

IF it is England, I think we'd be looking at their scrum and thinking we could have it, on this performance.

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:48 am

Told you, look the French are totally different side now. Next try could be crucial.

by kiakahaaotearoa Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:49 am

Big defence in close from ABs. Kaino a big hit and turn over. Ellis spills but when NZ spin the ball France look like they have holes everywhere.

by Guest Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:49 am

Brilliant French support in the crowd, great to hear them in full voice, fair play to them, doing everything they can for their team.

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:49 am

Kaino is a beast. Shocked

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:50 am

Well France have got the penalty....psychological advantage....the pressure is off them now because they're thinking they've lost the game anyway, so they can just go like the clappers.

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:51 am

Big hit from Thorn! France have a lot more urgency about them now though.

by kiakahaaotearoa Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:52 am

Huge by Kaino. French seem to have more urgency but brutal defence gets the turnover. French seem to have lifted mentally after that try. Come on fight back!!!

by Standulstermen Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:53 am

roddersm wrote:Kaino is a beast.

I hear he wears Stephen Ferris pyjamas as well thumbsup

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:53 am

Nonu knocks on....that's a rarity....and another penalty to the French after the scrum....are the ABs getting rattled now?

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:55 am

Thats the way they are Kia. They just drop their heads and look disinterested when they are getting beat. No one wanted the ball for the last 50min or to make a tackle.

Then they score and all of a sudden they are a different side!

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:55 am

Hope Kahui's OK, he was limping slightly when he came off there.

Good kick from Carter.

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:56 am

Standulstermen wrote:
roddersm wrote:Kaino is a beast.

I hear he wears Stephen Ferris pyjamas as well

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:56 am

Drop Goal!!!! 32 - 10.

There's been some great offloads from the All Blacks.

by kiakahaaotearoa Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:57 am

Drop goal from Carter. Good idea to get points ticking over. Keep them down.

Ellis has been poor holding on too long. Slade on at left wing for Kahui. Will be relief to see him opposite you rather than Kahui.

by flyhalffactory Sat 24 Sep 2011, 10:59 am

Morning Guys n Gals

Hope you are all having a super start to the weekend Yahoo

Looks like I missed a cracking first half and a bit............... and at the moment the ABs look in total control

by Cowshot Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:01 am

AB counterrucking has been perhaps the biggest thing to me. Devastating.

by **Biltong** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:02 am

flyhalffactory wrote:Morning Guys n Gals

Hope you are all having a super start to the weekend

Looks like I missed a cracking first half and a bit............... and at the moment the ABs look in total control

The first half was like a mudslide

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:03 am

Dagg limping off now as well...

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:04 am

Am I the only person not convinced by the AB's? They don't look like they are enjoying themselves out there. There's just something missing from them right now.

by Guest Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:04 am

uhoh 2 NZ players injured, Dagg limping and someone else is down

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:05 am

I think this game's gone a bit flat...need a score now to lift it again.

Jebus, the AB players dropping like flies!

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:06 am

Awh held up France....good attempt though.

by **rodders** Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:06 am

Great drive from france. 5 metre scrum.

by Cowshot Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:06 am

Allez Les Bleus! Good drive.

by Cari Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:06 am

Dagg is still limping - get him off!

by Guest Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:07 am

Servat has made a huge difference to the French. Excellent player.

by kiakahaaotearoa Sat 24 Sep 2011, 11:07 am

The game´s over rodders. Falling off by ABs because the game is won. Some worrying injuries. Thomson´s knee doesn´t look good and don´t like to see Dagg limping. He´s been so good. Read comes back but we are thin in backrow cover.

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