All Blacks v France 2025

[drewprint]

France C team looking sharp early vs NZ. 10-0 at the 18 minute mark.

And instant response from NZ.

 

[ACR]

Should be part of the game plan for Ethan de Groot to never ever touch the ball.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Rieko ain't keeping that wing jersey if he can't beat a man

bit bummed at Proctor having such a betty crocker of a 1st half. Still, the 3 Barrett's seem to alternate having a "bad day at the office" and never lose their spots because of it so Proctor should be fine.

Oh dear, Shithead Reece lasted 57 seconds, damn shame, oh well, he's lost his spot now bye bye then violent alkie shitheel.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

French centres just going hard at Proctor & not worrying too much what happens if they miss. Mostly working so far but I can see it blowing up in spectacular fashion as fatigue & repetition set in.

 

[Major Tom]

Wish our A team was this competitive

 

[Major Tom]

Great ball by the French front rower!

 

[Micheal]

There is no team that receives a better whistle in world rugby than the All Blacks.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

LLLOLLLL France C more than good enough to compete with that bunch of hot potatoing turnips.

Roigard was an absolute lifesaver.

Tupeau pretty much won the match by jolting that ball out with a couple of mins to go to halt the frogs advancing up the Champs Elysees towards glory.

 

[zer0]

Meh. I never felt France were in any danger of winning in the second half. More just giving their all on defence to keep it close while the AB's were regularly being thwarted one way or another.

Also been some funky accents kicking around in these post-match interviews. A Canadian Frenchman and neither Holland nor his ma sounding at all Dutch.

 

[Major Tom]

There is no team that receives a better whistle in world rugby than the All Blacks.

They had 3 tries disallowed

 

[Dctarget]

What the fuck, All Blacks you were meant to murder these no names. You’ve completely screwed it. Proctor was shit. The French are going to be so painful now.

 

[Tomikin]

Yeah the bitching from Justin Marshall calling the team sent by the French bullshit, looks kinda silly now.

 

[Dan54]

Not surprised that the score was closer than some were predicting, it's a test match and young fellas like to shove it up the noses of people writing them off. Noy overly concerned, though same problem is happening, ABs are making a shitload of opportunities, not finishing them off.
Actually every game I watched yesterday was closer than the 'experts' predicted. From my club side that only won through to their final because they scored 4 tries to 3, they were meant to win. That was after 10 minutes of extra time too. MAB game was close, this test, and Tahs were closer to Lions than many said.
Even Italy running Boks reasonably close.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

AB looked dangerous when they managed to get the ball wide but still haven't worked out how to counter the rush D. Maybe look at having a bigger body operating in the 12/13 channel, even if only as a decoy? Gotta give the D more than one thing to think about.

 

[The Red Baron]

ABs will be filthy with that game. Watch them put 50 on the frogs next week.

 

[Dan54]

Just a minor sideline, that was the All Blacks 500th test win.

 

[KiwiM]

I think it was telling when Razor was asked during the week about how he likes his ABs to play his response was 'fast'.

I wish the ABs played with a bit more balance - and knew when to push the pace and when to just build pressure.

It's something NZ players have struggled with for quite a few years

Entertaining game to watch.

3 of the 4 debutants went well. Kirifi didn't make an impact.

The 13 jersey is fascinating - Rieko is not the winger he was when he was younger - Proctor has been burnt in defence multiple times in his 3 test starts - Tupaea looks more comfortable at 12 but made the match winning tackle off the bench at 13

ABs once again came second in terms of field kicking and contested high balls - that's a huge issue that I don't see changing anytime soon.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

1news reporting that ScoBar was limping as he boarded the plane to Wellington today, likely won't play T2 & may not play T3 either. Presumably PatT will replace him in the 23 if not the XV & ASav will take the captaincy.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Kirifi didn't make an impact.

He just looks so small out there. Brave as shit but all of 5"11 and 95kg? FFS Ratima the halfback might be bigger than that

contested high balls

must fix. With the congested defenses it's somehow suddenly become a huge part of the game. Wales almost beat Japan purely by launching kicks up and then chasing them like maniacs and contesting the shit out of them.

AB's surely have to get Clarke back in there for it.

 

[Wilson]

He just looks so small out there. Brave as shit but all of 5"11 and 95kg? FFS Ratima the halfback might be bigger than that

He's fine size-wise as part of an otherwise big back row, which you lot can absolutely put out. Unfortunately for Kirifi that doesn't work so well with Ardie and starts to look like the worst version of the dual 7s we've gone with in the past. Hard to see him getting too much more time while Ardie is still front and centre, but I imagine they want to keep him within the fold in case of injury or for the year or 2 post 27 world cup, when Ardie invariably takes the yen/euro fulltime.