The shock of the fall tour. More than a year after their last clash, in the opening match of the World Cup in France on September 8, 2023, France and New Zealand meet again, Saturday November 16, at the Stade de France.
Since this date, the XV of France and the All Blacks have each experienced upheavals. Neither team approaches this meeting with full confidence and will have to deal with several injuries. A look back at an eventful year on both sides.
The XV of France: many certainties and some doubts
On October 15, 2023, the French XV was ejected from “its” World Cup for a cruel point against the Springboks. Despite the defeat, Fabien Galthié had found his men and a coherent structure, with a colossal pack and unleashed wingers. But he also knew that a foggy year awaited him: his star scrum half, Antoine Dupont, was going to disappear for eight months to successfully prepare for the Games.
The Six Nations Tournament, at the start of the year, confirmed its importance: a second place behind Ireland, who humiliated the Blues in Marseille to start (17-38), a happy draw against Italy (13 -13) and two victories to finish against Wales (45-24) and England (33-31).
What followed was a summer tour without all the executives and totally overshadowed by extra-sporting affairs, which the Blues ended with a defeat in Argentina (33-25). The results (five victories, two defeats and one draw) are not a sign of a failed year, but this French XV was much more predictable without Dupont.
She also had to deal with major injuries: Romain Ntamack is on the sidelines again, Cyril Baille is injured for a long time, to which François Cros and Damian Penaud are added to face the All Blacks. Enough to force Fabien Galthié to try a lot of changes.
In 2024, thanks to the various absentees, some have scored points, like Nolann Le Garrec, now Dupont's understudy, and Emmanuel Meafou, indisputable holder in the second row. Others have established their status, like hooker Peato Mauvaka or winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
In the will “emulation” wanted by Galthié, some are pushing out the door like Posolo Tuilagi, Paul Boudehent, Emilien Gailleton or Léo Barré, while some have suffered a downgrade, like Cameron Woki, Matthieu Jalibert and Charles Ollivon. The former captain, sent back to the club against Japan, will start on the bench on Saturday for his return.
Rugby: the Blues attack the Blacks
This Saturday, the Stade de France will host the long-awaited match between France and New Zealand. The team lineups have been revealed, revealing a mix of experienced players and young talents, promising a match full of spectacle. Note, however, the absence of Mathieu Jalibert, who was not selected for this meeting.
Against New Zealand, there will be eight changes in the French starting fifteen compared to the quarter-final of the World Cup. Fabien Galthié continues to phorize around his executives, and the slap inflicted on Japan has undoubtedly reinforced him in certain choices. Facing the All Blacks, he will move on to the ultimate reveal of his team's progress since the World Cup. “It’s been a long time since we played the All Blacks at this level. The challenge is immense”warned the coach.
The All Blacks: a new coach and pensions to manage
The All Blacks have also experienced a sinusoidal trajectory since their final loss, also by a meager point, against South Africa. They too are in a form of reconstruction. Eight starters retired after the World Cup, including executives Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick and Richie Mo'unga.
Forced to adapt, they have not yet found an established fifteen, even if Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (absent Saturday), Tyrel Lomax, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan and the trio of Barrett siblings are still present. The two main changes are at the scrum, where Cam Roigard has the difficult task of taking over from Aaron Smith, and at the head: the austere Ian Foster did not convince and left his place to the former international New Zealander Scott Robertson, with seven trophies with the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
The fact remains that their record, of nine victories and three defeats over the past year, confirms that they are no longer as overwhelming as before. “We have the opportunity to win but also the opportunity to take 50″warned the French forwards coach, William Servat, this week.
Defeated several times by Ireland in recent years, dominated by the Argentine Pumas twice on their own soil in 2022 and 2024, the New Zealanders missed their Rugby Championship (the Six Nations of the Southern countries) this summer. Like the Blues, they finished second with a big victory against Argentina (42-10) but three defeats, against Argentina to start (38-30) and against the Springboks (31-27 and 18-12 ).
But the All Blacks, who ideally began their tour of the Northern Hemisphere this fall with two victories in England (24-22) and especially in Ireland (23-13), are on the upward slope thanks to the depth of their reservoir . On Saturday, they will have revenge against the French, who dominated them the last two times. “It is a team settling scores after going through some difficult years. They want to regain world leadership”, warned Fabien Galthié on Thursday.
Deprived of its explosive winger Mark Tele'a, who had hurt the Blues so badly at the World Cup, New Zealand is moving forward as a mirror to France: a very high level with solid foundations, but in the process of polishing its workforce. “New Zealand is capable of responding to all forms of rugby. It's a team that is very good in the phases of pure conquest, in the fight, in the ground game, in the aerial game and with as much speed as ever.”listed the French coach.
