Rugby World Cup Match Preview - New Zealand vs France
The All Blacks vs France is the biggest match of the Rugby World Cup 2011 so far and the All Blacks will not lack motivation for winning this match. It is set to be played in front of 60,000 fans at Eden Park, where New Zealand captain Richie McCaw will become the first person to play one hundred test matches for the All Blacks. This match also represents a revenge mission for the host nation after they were left smarting after losing to the enigmatic French team in the Cardiff Quarter Final in 2007. These previously mentioned factors should provide enough incentive for the All Blacks, but they would also lose their World Number One IRB Ranking to France if they lose this match.
Both teams are nearly at full strength with the biggest talking point for France being the inclusion of usual halfback Morgan Parra at first five eighth ahead of team mates like Francois Trinh-Duc, Fabrice Estebanez who regularly plays in the pivot role for his club and Damien Traille who has done so for France during the Marc Lièvremont era. It seems that this lightweight pairing of Dimitri Yachvili and Morgan Parra have been introduced in an attempt to speed the game up and move their bigger New Zealand opponents around which they did successfully against both Japan and Canada in earlier matches. It is still a strong French side.
The All Blacks have gone for the exciting Israel Dagg at fullback ahead of the reliable Mils Muliaina. Dagg is the form player, but Muliaina is unlucky as he sits agonisingly close to joining captain Richie McCaw on one hundred caps, but is currently on 98. Piri Weepu surprisingly gets the nod ahead of Jimmy Cowan and Andy Ellis at halfback. Weepu has been more of a bench player in recent times, but has a better attacking game than Jimmy Cowan. Adam Thomson starts in the unfamiliar role of Number Eight in the forwards. He is usually on the bench while Kieran Read starts at Number Eight, but since both of these players have been injured Victor Vito has been first choice. His increased mobility could be vital if France try speeding the game up and Thomson really needs the game time following his injury. Watch for Sonny Bill Williams to come off the bench in the second half and play on the wing.
Both of these teams named their strongest line ups so far in the Rugby World Cup 2011 tournament, but I think there is too much motivating the New Zealand All Blacks for them not to win. The The All Blacks should win by 15-20 points, but it isn't all that bad for France who, if they lose, would end up with a Quarter Final against England and a possible Semi Final against Ireland or Wales. Who knows? These two teams could meet again in the final and France could repeat the dose of the great upsets of the 1999 and 2007 Rugby World Cups.
The teams:
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Anthony Boric, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
France 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Morgan Parra, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Pascale Papé, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 William Servat, 17 Fabien Barcella, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Francois Trinh-Duc, 21 Fabrice Estebanez, 22 Cédric Heymans.
Date: Saturday, September 24
Kick-off: 20:30 (08:30 GMT)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Weather: Cloudy but dry. Max 18°C, evening low of 10°C.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
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