These games are always special affairs and Saturday promises to be no different as France face the All Blacks in a mouth-watering Autumn Nations Series clash.
Where the game will be won
Last time they met
What they said
Players to watch
We’ll get to the incredible scrum-half shortly but, if France are to secure victory, they will need a typically rock solid showing, both around the field and off the tee, from Thomas Ramos. Such an assured goal-kicker, Les Bleus will require Ramos to be at his reliable best as we expect them to take every point available to them.
Elsewhere, back-row Paul Boudehent is rewarded for his physical shift off the bench last weekend with a start and will again need to bring that to the fore, while on the flip side the likes of Gregory Alldritt, Emmanuel Meafou and Peato Mauvaka must be prominent figures in order for France to come out on top.
For New Zealand, we’re fascinated by how their back-row trio of Samipeni Finau, Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi will perform, the latter in his preferred number eight jersey. Many have clamoured for Savea and Sititi in these roles and perhaps we are getting a glimpse of the long-term future in Saint-Denis this weekend.
In the backline, a game doesn’t go by without Will Jordan slicing through opposition defences at will while it’s a huge opportunity for Cam Roigard at number nine and Beauden Barrett returning at fly-half. The French must also be wary of the impact Damian McKenzie is set to bring off the bench late in the Test.
Main head-to-heads
The best scrum-half in world rugby meets one who is looking to take on that mantle one day in the not too distant future. All eyes will be on Antoine Dupont against Cam Roigard on Saturday in what promises to be an all-action tussle between two box office number nines who could well decide this international.
Elsewhere, the battle at number eight is another that catches the eye where Gregory Alldritt will square off against one of the stars of the Autumn Nations Series so far, Wallace Sititi. Sititi’s on-field form and impressive poise in front of the media has stood out this month and he looks the real deal at this level.
Prediction
New Zealand certainly have their tails up at the moment after a solid tour to date and with some crucial players such as Damian Penaud and Romain Ntamack missing for France, one feels like this is a fantastic opportunity for the All Blacks to strike in their penultimate match. All Blacks to win by two points.
2023: France won 27-13 in Saint-Denis
2021: France won 40-25 in Saint-Denis
2018: New Zealand won 49-14 in Dunedin
2018: New Zealand won 26-13 in Wellington
2018: New Zealand won 52-11 in Auckland
2017: New Zealand won 38-18 in Saint-Denis
2016: New Zealand won 24-19 in Saint-Denis
2015: New Zealand won 62-13 in Cardiff
2013: New Zealand won 26-19 in Saint-Denis
2013: New Zealand won 24-9 in New Plymouth
France: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Gabin Villiere, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gregory Aldritt, 7 Alexandre Roumat, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Tevita Tatafu, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Charles Ollivon, 22 Nolann le Garrec, 23 Emilen Gailleton
New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie
Date: Saturday, November 16
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 21:10 local (20:10 GMT, 09:10 NZDT)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
