the essential
It was the shock of the 2024 autumn tour at the Stade de France, this Saturday, November 16 in the evening: Antoine Dupont's Blues challenged the powerful All Blacks.
The rear
Romain pregnant (3/5). He scored the first try for the Blues for his first with the blue jersey. A strong try to conclude France's first good offensive sequence. Not shy for a penny despite the stakes and the emotion of a first cap against the Blacks, he restarted all the balls in hand. He obviously scored points in the minds of Galthié and the staff. Replaced by LE GARREC (69).
Gabin VILLIERE (2/5). Often on the verge of a mistake, it was difficult in the first half with numerous missed tackles for the man who had not worn the French team jersey since September 2023. Better in the second, he performed better. notably noted by a good tackle during which he takes his opponent into touch (48). He did not have an exploitable ball to put himself forward in the game.
Also read:
REPLAY. France – New Zealand: “Where others have broken their teeth…” The Blues score a major victory against the All Blacks
Gaël FICKOU (2/5). He explained this week that he was particularly on a cane but he didn't really show it yesterday. In difficulty several times in the face of shelling from the New Zealanders, he made a mistake too easily (16).
Yoram MOEFANA (2.5/5). We didn't see him with the ball in hand. The Bordelo-Béglais scrapped and was content to work in the shadows in the center of the field to try to contain the numerous assaults of the Blacks. Not taken by default. Replaced by GAILLETTON (61).
Louis BIELLE-BIARREY (3.5/5). The pressure he put under Ramos' kicks was very valuable, his self-sacrifice in defense too. He made his canes do the talking to score a try following a “deep pass” from Ramos (51st). 9th try in 13 selections… A stat that says a lot.
Thomas RAMOS (3/5). He has said time and time again that he prefers to play at full-back but the fly-half position suits him like a glove. Comfortable in directing the Blues' game, he took several initiatives, sometimes a little too hasty like this choice to follow when there was better to do upwind (63), but most often with success . His skill against the poles is still just as valuable (6/6, 100%). He finished the match at fullback after Buros came off.
Also read:
VIDEO. France – New Zealand: Kapa o Pango! Relive the very impressive haka of the All Blacks against Antoine Dupont and the determined Blues
Antoine DUPONT (3/5). He was put on his butt by Savea at the start of the match (10). A missed tackle from Antoine Dupont is rare enough to be highlighted and he then managed 14. He did not have the opportunity to shine as in his previous outings because of the pressure put on by the Blacks but could have scored a trickster try following a play at the foot of Ramos (17). His two subtle passes to the foot for Bielle-Biarrey would have deserved a better fate.
Also read:
France – New Zealand: “Zinzin”, “genius”… Antoine Dupont on the verge of scoring a crazy try after a unique action
The fronts
Grégory ALLDRITT (3/5). Intercepted by Roigard on the latter's try (27), number 8 made few errors. He often hung around in the rucks, and put pressure on the New Zealanders on the French's dismissals. Replaced by Guillard (49), who harassed the Whites a lot last night.
Alexandre ROUMAT (2.5/5). He plays the move perfectly by handing over to Meafou on Boudehent's try (44th). Impeccable in touch – a stolen throw (53) – the Stadiste, taken by Jordan on the first of the Blacks, was up to his standards in Blues.
Paul BOUDEHENT (4/5). Very solid match from the third line. A test to his credit which rewards his meeting where he was the big ball carrier for the French. Often well placed to ensure the continuity of the game (29, 38), he gave a lot in defense, containing the New Zealand attacks. Mauvaka came back into play in his place (70th).
Emmanuel MEAFOU (2/5). Aside from his 20-meter breakthrough (42), we didn't really see him offensively. If he sometimes seemed exhausted, he distributed a few cartridges (19, 38), devoted himself to support in the rucks, and was a perfect relay on France's victorious maul (44). Substituted by TAOFIFENUA (49), released a few minutes later due to concussion. Entered his place, OLLIVON (56) scratched a hot ball five meters from his line (61).
Thibaud FLAMENT (2.5/5). Defeated on his first touchdown reception (4), he then corrected the situation. He was one of the Blues to have been the most active in shadow work, at the risk of making a mistake (38, 62).
Also read:
ZOOM. France – New Zealand: Peato Mauvaka pushes the limits again! The Stade Toulousain player shone (again) in this crazy match
Avoid TATAFU (non noté). Hit in the left knee in a tackle at the start of the match, the pillar had a short second selection. Replaced in the 10th minute by Colombe (1.5), who made a good comeback by recovering two contest penalties (10, 14). Then, he suffered as much from the pace of the game as from the pressure from the left axis of the New Zealand scrum.
Peato MAVAKA (3/5). The Toulouse hooker showed quite impressive activity in the game. And his presence on the ground was precious for his team, whether to disrupt the opposing supports, or to be quick to recover the slightest small ball that was lying around. Replaced by MARCHAND (49), solid in scrum, and attentive in defense, where his arms looked for a few scratches.
Jean-Baptiste GROS (2.5/5). He was having a real test against the Blacks. Test that the Toulon pillar has rather succeeded. If we put aside the scrum, where he was dominated like the entire first line, the left-hander did a lot of defensive work. After 25 relatively discreet minutes, he ended up coming out of the woods and relaying several attacks from the Blues, like on Buros' try (33rd). Replaced by ROSES (49), stable in the scrum, but at fault on a clearance offering three points to the Blacks (75).
