“It's been a long time since we played the All Blacks at this level. The challenge is immense for us and at the same time fantastic.“Fabien Galthié, the coach of the French team, knows the challenge that awaits his team against the All Blacks, Saturday November 16 (at 9:10 p.m.) at the Stade de France. A duel between two of the greatest nations in current world Rugby.
• All Blacks who scare again. Triple winners of the World Cup (1987, 2011 and 2015), beaten in the final by the South Africans in 2023, the All Blacks have, after a very average Rugby Championship (three victories and three defeats), resumed their march forward . The men of new coach Scott Robertson have a string of victories (five in a row): against Australia twice (31-28 and 33-13), in Japan (64-19), at Twickenham against England (24-22 ) and in Dublin against Ireland (23-13). Their goal is simple: finish the tour (which ends in Italy on November 23) undefeated.
• The last two oppositions to the advantage of the Blues. If New Zealand largely leads (as against all the nations of the world) its face-to-face with France (48 victories for 14 defeats and a draw), the last two duels leaned in favor of the XV of France, each time at the Stade de France. From the largest French victory in history (40-25) in 2021 to the opening match of the World Cup in 2023 (27-13), the All Blacks suffered two significant setbacks. In history, France has only had three consecutive victories against this opponent once, during a tour of New Zealand in 1994 and then a match in Toulouse in 1995.
• Four changes in the composition of the Blues. Winners of the Japanese by a river score (52-12) during the first match of the fall tour, the Blues changed their appearance for this shock. Romain Buros was established at full-back for his first selection, Gaël Fickou returned to his place at center while he was a substitute against the Japanese, and Paul Boudehent and Gabin Villière replaced the injured François Cros and Damian Penaud . Opener Mathieu Jalibert was not included in the group of 23.
France
