All Blacks v France 2025

[waiopehu oldboy]

"France coach Fabien Galthié says he has “no choice” but to name a weakened squad for next month’s test series in New Zealand."

In the meantime he's named a squad for a warmup v an England XV:

Forwards: Hugo Auradou, Demba Bamba, Gaëtan Barlot, Tyler Duguid, Baptiste Erdocio, Alexandre Fischer, Mickaël Guillard, Paul Mallez, Guillame Marchand, Régis Montagne, Rabah Slimani, Romain Toafifenua, Kilian Tixeront, Jacobus van Tonder, Théo William, Cameron Woki.

Backs: Théo Attissogbe, Léo Barré, Léo Berdeu, Thibault Daubagna, Alivereti Duguivalu, Gaël Fickou, Émilien Gailleton, Antoine Hastoy, Baptiste Jauneau, Nolann Le Garrec, Théo Millet, Maël Moustin.

"Players from eliminated Top 14 semifinalists could join the squad next Monday."

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Strewthcobber]

"France coach Fabien Galthié says he has “no choice” but to name a weakened squad for next month’s test series in New Zealand."

The French, and by extension WR (World Rugby), just don't care at all about us down here do they.....

“You have to be informative and try to explain the obligations which are linked to our season schedule.
“We have no other solution. I think it's quite clear.
“Or the New Zealanders can help us to reinvent our domestic season's schedule.”

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Yeah, it's starting to wear a little thin. Hard to recall a full-strength French team coming these ways since the game went pro.

 

[Wilson]

You can almost hear the Gallic shrug in Galthié's words

 

[Strewthcobber]

Yeah, it's starting to wear a little thin. Hard to recall a full-strength French team coming these ways since the game went pro.

The worst bit is we all literally did help them reinvent their domestic schedule by moving the international window into July in 2020.

France promptly moved their Top 14 Grand final from 2 June in 2017 to 28 June this year

 

[Dan54]

Honest truth, I don't give to stuffs if they leave some of their stars at home. Although I prefer top line ups, stuff it, you have to play who turns up!

I hearing some interesting tidbits who will be in and out of AB squad. Hope they are true.

 

[Dctarget]

I'd be more disappointed for the players themselves. Dupont will always be a great but less heralded players like Jelonch will finish their careers with 30% less caps when really he should haev 100+ caps and be spoken about with the greats of Chabal and Dusautoir.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Richard Knowler from stuff.co.nz has put out his possible AB 35:

OUTSIDE BACKS

Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Emoni Narawa, Sevu Reece, Caleb Clarke, Leroy Carter.

MIDFIELDERS

Rieko Ioane, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, David Havili.

FIRST FIVES

Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie.

HALFBACKS

Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Noah Hotham.

LOOSE FORWARDS

Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Dalton Papali'i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson.

LOCKS

Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i, Fabian Holland.

PROPS

Tamaiti Williams, Ethan de Groot, Ollie Norris, Fletcher Newell, Tyrel Lomax, Pasilio Tosi.

HOOKERS

Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Asafo Aumua/George Bell.

He's bracketed Bell as Aumua's injury status isn't clear right now.

Knowler seemed to have pretty good Intel under Shag & Fozzie but got a few wrong wrt Razor's first squad last year.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz