Well, the All Blacks (Coached by Steve Hansen (Former Canterbury & Wales coach & All Blacks assistant coach to Ted, Sir Graham Henry) & captained by Crusader & Cantabrian Kieran Read (Although he was born in Papakura which is located in Auckland & took over the reins from the legendary Richie McCaw) ended our year with a win against the Guy Noves (Who took over as coach from former player Philippe Saint-Andre after France were completely annihilated by New Zealand in Cardiff last year during the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals) coached & Guilhem Guirado (Who plays for former All Black Ma'a Nonu's glamorous French club Toulon (Who has formed a foreign legion of players) which features the likes of Nonu himself, Georgia's finest of Mamuka Gorgodze & Levan Chilachava, Argentinian Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, American Samu Manoa, South Africans Duane Vermeulen, Juan Smith (Who is the captain for Toulon), Marcel van der Merwe, Juandre Kruger & Bryan Habana, Aussies Liam Gill, James O'Connor (Who is exactly, once known as the Justin Bieber (Although Aunty Tania is in Justin Bieber land so she's coming here to New Zealand next month for Christmas, New Year & the 1 year anniversary of Nan's passing on the 6th of January) of rugby (AKA James O'Bieber) because he looks like him a lot), Drew Mitchell & Matt Giteau, Japanese rock star of rugby all the way from the far east: Ayumu Goromaru, Welsh playboy Leigh Halfpenny, current & former French internationals Xavier Chiocci, Charles Ollivon, Sebastien Tillous-Borde, Francois Trinh-Duc, the big & impressive Mathieu Bastareaud, Maxime Mermoz & Vincent Clerc & of course the flying Fijians of prop Manasa Saulo & gold medal winner at Rio in sevens rugby, winger Josua Tuisova) led France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France & I managed to wake up at 8am (Although I already set the alarm clock at 8am because I always get up there) 30 minutes till the start of the broadcast so I managed to have breakfast just like I watched the Irish game when I had breakfast because I had a cereal with yoghurt as well as having a croissant (Which is a French food that I had) before I had sausages with bacon, tomato & eggs so Pops managed to watch the game just because I had Sky along with my Dad who only watched the 1st half in my flat here but we didn't have smoothie (Well I had a smoothie for dessert on Thursday & Saturday when I saw the lights at 15A Kells Avenue right there) because we were full then but so here's the full match commentary of the game so far to end 2016 on a high for the All Blacks despite the defeat against Ireland which shocked the rugby world in Chicago by putting their train off our rails:
But 1st of all, here's the starting lineup for the All Blacks to play against France:
1 (Loose head prop): Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders)
2 (Hooker): Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes)
3 (Tight head prop): Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders)
4 (Lock): Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay/Chiefs)
5 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders)
6 (Blindside Flanker): Jerome Kaino (Auckland/Blues)
7 (Openside Flanker): Matt Todd (Canterbury/Crusaders)
8 (Number 8): Kieran Read (Captain, Canterbury/Crusaders)
9 (Half-back): TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes)
10 (First five eighth): Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
11 (Left Wing): Julian Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes)
12 (Second five eighth): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
13 (Centre): Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato/Chiefs)
14 (Right Wing): Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay/Crusaders)
And in the reserves are Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Aaron Cruden & Rieko Ioane.
1ST MINUTE: Start of 1st half
Time for the anthems and a belting rendition of Le Marsellaise
France have advanced on the Haka with their arms linked. the crowd erupts with delight.
All set for kick off. The All Blacks get us underway.
New Zealand concede a penalty straight from kick off as Brodie Retallick takes the man in the air.
1 MINUTE LATER: France on the attack and piling the pressure on the All Blacks line. Electric start to this game. The All Blacks turn it over though and clear their lines.
2 MINUTES LATER: It's been all France so far. Noa Nakaitaci with a brilliant break down the left hand touch line but can't quite chip the final defender.
1 MINUTE LATER: Attacking maul for France now as the forwards rumble on, but the All Blacks defense is good and they win another turnover. 3 inside the first 5 minutes.
2 MINUTES LATER: 0-5 Try - Israel Dagg, New Zealand
TRY Time!! Julian Savea collects a Beauden Barrett cross kick and puts Israel Dagg in for a simple try. That is the All Blacks all over.
1 MINUTE LATER: 0-7 Conversion - Beauden Barrett, New Zealand
1 MINUTE LATER: France again on the attack as Camille Lopez is put in space but gets bundled into touch just short of the All Blacks line. What a game!
2 MINUTES LATER: The opening 10 minutes has been near enough all France other than a breakout try from the All Blacks. Unfortunately for Les Bleus, they have conceded turnovers at crucial stages which have let the All Blacks off the hook.
1 MINUTE LATER: Substitute on - Gael Fickou, France
12' Player substituted - Wesley Fofana, France
1 MINUTE LATER: Machenaud puts in a half gap after some smart work at the lineout by France.
2 MINUTES LATER: Player substituted - Yoann Maestri, France
15' Substitute on - Julien Ledevedec, France
2 MINUTES LATER: 0-10 Penalty goal - Beauden Barrett, New Zealand
17' Player substituted - Gael Fickou, France
17' Substitute on - Wesley Fofana, France
5 MINUTES LATER: France on the attack again and some slick offloading nearly puts Nakaitaci into space. They come within inches but can't find the decisive pass to break clear.
2 MINUTES LATER: Not seen an All Blacks defense been cut open this easily. French half-backs picking players off almost at will. Haven't converted all this possession and pressure into points though.
1 MINUTE LATER: 3-10 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud, France
2 MINUTES LATER: Lamerat strips Julian Savea of the ball to the delight of the French crowd. Strong defensive set from Les Bleus.
1 MINUTE LATER: France go within inches yet again after a flowing move from the half-way puts Vakatawa into space down the left. He steps inside but can't quite find Fofana with the offload. Brilliant play from the French.
3 MINUTES LATER: New Zealand defense has held strong despite an onslaught from France in the opening 30 minutes. You do feel that if they continue to weather this storm then the All Blacks will pull away in the final quarter of the game.
6 MINUTES LATER: The match has hit a bit of a lull after a series of handling errors. For all their possession and territory, France will want to get more than 3 points on the score board before the half.
2 MINUTES LATER: Brilliant kick chance earns France a penalty in front of the sticks. That should be 10-6 at the half-time.
1 MINUTE LATER: 6-10 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud, France
6-10 End of 1st half
41ST MINUTE: 6-10 Start of 2nd half
Thrilling 1st half in Paris. The French started at a frenetic pace but couldn't quite break through. The All Blacks have had to endure wave after wave of attack, enjoying just 38% of possession.
About to get back underway in the second-half. Brilliant atmosphere in Paris as the home crowd sense a potential upset. France will need to be more clinical if they are to get anything from this.
1 MINUTE LATER: Brilliant offloading from France as they hammer away at the All Black line once again.
1 MINUTE LATER: OH INTERCEPT!!! HERE WE GO!! Beauden Barrett breaks French hearts as he intercepts and races some 90 metres to dot down under the sticks. Nobody is catching him from there, no one.
1 MINUTE LATER: 6-15 Try - Beauden Barrett, New Zealand
6-17 Conversion - Beauden Barrett, New Zealand
1 MINUTE LATER: Player substituted - Brodie Retallick, New Zealand
Substitute on - Scott Barrett, New Zealand
Player substituted - Ryan Crotty, New Zealand
Substitute on - Rieko Ioane, New Zealand
Player substituted - Joe Moody, New Zealand
Substitute on - Wyatt Crockett, New Zealand
4 MINUTES LATER: Player substituted - Maxime Machenaud, France
Substitute on - Baptiste Serin, France
Player substituted - Owen Franks, New Zealand
Substitute on - Charlie Faumuina, New Zealand
The wind has been taken out of the French sails after that Beauden Barrett try. Drop off in intensity although the endeavor is still there as they continue to look for offloads.
2 MINUTES LATER: 9-17 Penalty goal - Baptiste Serin, France
1 MINUTE LATER: The French backs have been making yards almost at will tonight. Last ditch All Blacks defense has been superb otherwise this could be a very different game.
2 MINUTES LATER: Another let off for the All Blacks as Gourdon is judged to have gone off his feet.
3 MINUTES LATER: Another cross kick successfully claimed by the All Blacks, this time Naholo links up with Beauden Barrett. First meaningful passage of attack from New Zealand this half.
1 MINUTE LATER: Player substituted - Matt Todd, New Zealand
Substitute on - Ardie Savea, New Zealand
Player substituted - Israel Dagg, New Zealand
Substitute on - Aaron Cruden, New Zealand
Try Time All Blacks - Charlie Faumuina barges his way over after swatting away the French half-back Serin. New Zealand built through the phases there and the French defense became ragged.
1 MINUTE LATER: 9-22 Try - Charlie Faumuina, New Zealand
1 MINUTE LATER: 9-24 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
Player substituted - TJ Perenara, New Zealand
Substitute on - Aaron Smith, New Zealand
Troubling for France is that the All Blacks have a history of coming to life in the last 20 minutes.
1 MINUTE LATER: Guirado looked for all the world to be in for a try but the hooker just didn't quite have the reach and the ball is knocked on.
1 MINUTE LATER: Player substituted - Uini Atonio, France
Substitute on - Rabah Slimani, France
Player substituted - Xavier Chiocci, France
Substitute on - Cyril Baille, France
Player substituted - Remi Lamerat, France
Substitute on - Gael Fickou, France
1 MINUTE LATER: 14-24 Try - Louis Picamoles, France
What a try from France! Baptiste Serin with a sumptuous offload to Louis Picamoles who crashes over from close range. That all off the back of a devastating French scrum penalty.
1 MINUTE LATER: 16-24 Conversion - Baptiste Serin, France
Player substituted - Dane Coles, New Zealand
Substitute on - Codie Taylor, New Zealand
The no look offload from Baptiste Serin was out of this world! He's 22 and living up to the blockbuster billing.
3 MINUTES LATER: End to end stuff now as New Zealand look to put the game beyond doubt. Julian Savea charging up the middle of the pitch.
1 MINUTE LATER: Player substituted - Louis Picamoles, France
Substitute on - Damien Chouly, France
1 MINUTE LATER: Loose lineout by France sets New Zealand on the attack again. Beauden Barrett immediately puts in another cross field kick which isn't dealt with but play is brought back for a knock on.
2 MINUTES LATER: Player substituted - Guilhem Guirado, France
Substitute on - Camille Chat, France
New Zealand looking to finish the game off now as they go through the phases on the edge of the French 22. France's defense was superb though as they smash back the likes of Kieran Reid and Codie Taylor.
5 MINUTES LATER: France trying to unlock the New Zealand defense from deep inside their own half and end up being bundled into touch. It erupts into some pushing and shoving. France with penalty now and they opt for a shot at goal to bring them within one score of the All Blacks.
1 MINUTE LATER: Exciting finish now as France are within 5 points of New Zealand. The All Blacks win the ball back from kick off and Barrett pins the French back onto their own 5 metre line. They'll have to go the length now, though they have the players to do it.
1 MINUTE LATER: 19-24 Penalty goal - Baptiste Serin, France
2 MINUTES LATER: All Blacks on the attack deep inside the French half. They'll be looking to close this game out now. France need to make a play.
1 MINUTE LATER: It's all over as Aaron Smith lumps the ball into touch. What a match that was.
1 MINUTE LATER: 19-24 End of 2nd half
And what do I think of the game? Well we sank the French into oblivion as we end the year on a high (Although we had a test series win against Wales as well as ending our Rugby Championship campaign undefeated & breaking the record for most straight wins by a tier 1 nation with 18 now) but how did TJ Perenara became the 1st choice halfback for the All Blacks? Because he overtook Aaron Smith at the pecking order because of the scandal that rocked across the nation but because of that, Aaron Smith is no longer considered the best halfback in the world.
And finally in other rugby news such as the Joe Schmidt coached & Rory Best led Ireland (One of the All Blacks main challengers along with England for possibly the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan) who had to win against the Wallabies (Who will try to end England's hopes of a perfect year just like the Irish who almost ended the All Blacks unbeaten run in 2013) coached & captained by Michael Cheika & Stephen Moore respectively at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin ending Australia's hopes of a Grand Slam & the Springboks (Coached by Alister Coetzee & led by Adriaan Strauss for the last time before retiring for good) are in turmoil after being brassed off & embarrassed by Wales (Coached by Rob Howley who is filling in for Warren Gatland who is coaching the British & Irish Lions & captained by Gethin Jenkins who is also filling in for the injured Sam Warburton) at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff as well as England (Coached by an Aussie Eddie Jones & captained by a Kiwi born in Rotorua who is now officially an Englishman, Dylan Hartley) who defeated the Daniel Hourcade coached & Agustin Creevy led Argentina side to remain unbeaten in 2016 after an ill disciplined match (A player from each team got sent off for that aerial challenge which landed on it's head (Which is winger Elliot Daly who will miss the crucial clash against the Wallabies due to suspension because he did that to Argentinian Number 8 Leonardo Senatore just like Malakai Fekitoa did against Ireland for the head high tackle or should I say a high shot on Irish winger Simon Zebo (Although the Irish aren't happy with that because they were livid about it well that is disgraceful) because New Zealand were playing dirty to seek utu after the Chicago blues disappointment & how did Sam Cane (Who missed the final AB's game of the year against France due to injury along with Ben Smith) got away from it after being cited?) & stomping on the face of the opponent (Which is prop Enrique Pieretto who did that to English prop Joe Marler (Who got sin binned for a probable retaliation) in the England 10 metre line) in the ruck) at Twickenham in London + Scotland pipped Georgia (Who entertained last year at the Rugby World Cup by securing automatic qualification for the next Rugby World Cup in 2019 which is going to be held in Japan with both victories against Namibia & Tonga in Pool C) in Kilmarnock & Tonga getting their 1st win against Italy in Padua since the Rugby World Cup pool match in 1999.
So that is my XXXIVth blog of the year 2016 (MMXVI) & my 74th overall, see you then because I will be doing a blog about the year in review split into 6 parts.
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