Kia ora and welcome to the first test between the All Blacks and France at Eden Park in Auckland.
International rugby is finally upon us and New Zealand will battle 'Les Bleus' in a three-match series.
Steve Hansen has named a formidable side in absence of regular captain, Kieran Read, world's best lock, Brodie Retallick and second-five Sonny Bill Williams.
France on the other hand are without several players due to the Top 14 final, but are led by Toulon powerhouse, Mathieu Bastareaud.
Commentary will start around 7:20pm.
Lineups
New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock (c), 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Ngani Laumape
France: 15 Maxime Médard, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud (c), 12 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 11 Remy Grosso, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fabien Sanconnie, 7 Kelian Gourdon, 6 Judicaël Cancoriet, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Adrien Pélissié, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Bernard Le Roux, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Gael Fickou
Match officials
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees (AR's/Touch judges): Angus Gardner (Australia), John Lacey (Ireland)
Television match official (TMO): George Ayoub (Australia)
Previous results
2017: New Zealand won 38-18 in Paris
2016: New Zealand won 24-19 in Paris
2015: New Zealand won 62-13 (World Cup quarter-final) in Cardiff
2013: New Zealand won 26-19 in Paris
2013: New Zealand won 24-9 in New Plymouth
7:15pm: It's finally here. We take a break from Super Rugby as the All Blacks play their first test of the year against France. Really excited for this one despite the odds suggesting a thrashing.
7:20pm: Can't wait for Tu’inukuafe to get on paddock for his first test cap. What a story. So many interesting match-ups and story-lines to look out for.
7:25pm: France have the third-best winning record against the All Blacks. Ahead of the likes of England and Ireland. So, anything can happen. There's always a chance.
7:27pm: It's a beautiful day in Auckland today and it's continued on into the night. France now making their way out of the tunnels.
7:29pm: Whitelock leads out the All Blacks to loud cheer from the fans. Just the anthems and haka to come before we get underway.
7:30pm: French anthem first up. Passion not lost on the players and supporters alike.
7:31pm: New Zealand anthem now sung by Moses Mackay. Doesn't quite have the same punch as France.
7:33pm: Time now for the haka! Perenara leading proceedings with Sam Whitelock front and centre. It's the 'Ka Mate'. Good stuff! Moments away from kick-off.
1ST MINUTE: Belleau kicks-off and Barrett takes it down for the All Blacks. Aaron Smith clears from the base of the ruck and France will attack. They try the offload in the tackle but knock on on halfway.
2 MINUTES LATER: Beauden Barrett attacks from deep but decides to kick through and it rolls into touch around the French 22m. The first scrum was very even.
1 MINUTE LATER: France are offside and are penalised. Jordie Barrett will have a shot at goal around halfway. He's got the distance but he pushed it right.
2 MINUTES LATER: There's a bit of space for Ioane down the left wing but he's well looked after. Barrett tries the chip kick but France look after it well and Thomas is in space! He's finally tackled the 40m.
2 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE TRY - GROSSO: All Blacks try to play it quickly after winning the turnover. Ben Smith tries to scoop it to his support player but it's intercepted by Grosso and the left winger races away 30 metres to score the game's opening try.
2 MINUTES LATER: All Blacks get up to win the restart but they knock on at the ruck for a French scrum. There's a real buzz now amongst the French players, cheering the NZ error.
2 MINUTES LATER: Barrett does brilliantly to streal the lineout and there's acres of space for Crotty! He's away with a number of support players but his pass is intercepted before it comes free and ends with Thomas dotting down in side his own goal area for the 22m dropout.
2 MINUTES LATER: Priso is penalised for going off his feet and Beauden Barrett this time will line up a shot at goal, about 40 metres out. His kick is down the middle and the reduce the lead.
2 MINUTES LATER: Lienert-Brown makes a meal of the kick-off and drops it cold as the French have it inside the 22m! They're putting it through the phases but Gabrillagues knocks on.
2 MINUTES LATER: France infringe at the lineout but it's just a free-kick and the ABs call for a scrum. They get it back this time and Lienert-Brown is smashed in the tackle and knocks on. Phew, what a hit by Bastareaud.
2 MINUTES LATER: Aaron Smith does well to tackle Sanconnie straight from the back of the scrum, strips the ball free but he never let go and is penalised. Gets an extra 10 for back chat. Parra will line up a shot at goal just in front of 10m and he nails it.
2 MINUTES LATER, ALL BLACKS TRY - BEAUDEN BARRETT: Scott Barrett does brilliantly to offload to brother, Jordie and he's in space! He passes to Crotty who's tackled just five metres out. Aaron Smith sees Beauden Barrett on the left wing and he connects and the first-five is over for the try. He can't convert his own try.
2 MINUTES LATER: Beauden Barrett tries the up-and-under inside his own 22m and Ben Smith's attempted tap back ends in French hands. They combine well down the left wing but Belleau is bundled into touch.
2 MINUTES LATER: Atonio enters the maul incorrectly and is pinged. Whitelock wins the lineout and Ben Smith has a crack up the middle. Ball's come free at the ruck and the French turn it over.
A French kick through is charged but a lucky bounce for Priso sees the loosie in space! He's held up by Beaudie and Aaron Smith and they force the turnover.
2 MINUTES LATER: Crotty takes it up from the scrum before the All Blacks clear up field for Medard to return it. Parra tries the box kick but it's easy for Beaudie to gather, he puts the bomb up but knocks on. Moody goes high in the tackle and is penalised.
2 MINUTES LATER: A clever lineout sees Grosso almost go through! They're keeping it tight, taking it up through their forwards but Maestri knocks on just six or seven metres out.
2 MINUTES LATER: Luke Whitelock runs it back hard from the scrum before Beauden Barrett's kick is knocked on by Medard who tried to catch it at serious pace.
2 MINUTES LATER: Jordie Barrett gets the ball at pace, puts the grubber through for Ioane but it's wide and he's forced to take it into touch. Good idea, just not enough space. French defended it well. ABs penalised at the lineout.
2 MINUTES LATER: Sam Whitelock is penalised for not releasing the player and Parra will line up a shot at goal from his own half. Tough kick, goes low and hard and it's over! Great nudge from the halfback.
2 MINUTES LATER: Parra tries the bomb from the breakdown and Jordie takes it well. France defence holding up very well, as NZ struggle to make metres. Ioane beats one and he's away down the left wing before a great tackle around the boot laces brings him down! ABs hot on attack!
2 MINUTES LATER: Lienert-Brown looks to be in for the try, but Aaron Smith obstructed a French player. ABs have the penalty however for an earlier offside. ABs will have the lineout just five metres out.
Luke Whitelock wins the lineout and immediately the ABs have the advantage. The ball is lost so we'll come back. Aaron Smith taps and the ABs are just five metres out. They're keeping it tight, taking it up through their forwards and Whitelock's held up to take us into halftime.
HALFTIME, ALL BLACKS 8 - 11 FRANCE: Wow, what a battle we have on our hands. France have defied the odds and hold a halftime lead. New Zealand have yet to stamp their mark on the game and have been playing catch up since the kick-off. Can they stage a second half comeback? Stay tuned to find out.
41ST MINUTE: Barrett gets the second half underway and Medard clears, but only as far as the 22m. Great chance for ABs immediately after the break.
2 MINUTES LATER: All Blacks going direct, taking it up through their forwards. Atonio is offside and is penalised. Beaudie finds touch for a five metre lineout.
1 MINUTE LATER: Sam Whitelock gets up to win the lineout and ABs drive. They're being pushed backwards and France turn it over! Thomas tries getting rid of one but can only knock on. Nevermind, it was Ioane who knocked on first in the tackle.
2 MINUTES LATER: Squire wins the lineout, Barrett tries the chip over the top but France dive on the loose ball to clean up before clearing through Parra from the ruck. ABs will have yet another 22m lineout.
2 MINUTES LATER: Tu’inukuafe is replacing Moody and immediately makes an impact as the ABs demolish the French scrum and awarded the penalty. Beaudie will line up the easy shot at goal and makes no mistake. We're all locked up.
2 MINUTES LATER: Beauden Barrett's kick is a good one and he pumps it long to force the French lineout just inside their own half. He was tracking back but was still able to make really good contact.
2 MINUTES LATER, YELLOW CARD: Gabrillagues catches Crotty with a swinging arm in the tackle and he's shown a straight yellow card. Wow, replays show he never made contact with his neck or head. Woeful decision.
2 MINUTES LATER: Jordie Barrett's in space and runs across field! He's got Ioane on his left, but leaves the pass too late and Medard does brilliantly to intercept and bring the play to an end.
ALL BLACKS TRY - TAYLOR: Beauden Barrett's got a ton of support on his left, shapes to pass to Ioane, doesn't and grubbers through for Taylor and the ball pops up beautifully for the hooker and he's over in the corner for try.
2 MINUTES LATER, ALL BLACKS TRY - B.SMITH: Aaron Smith puts up the bomb and it's come back on the ABs side before Ioane spots space and puts the kick through. Medard returns but the ABs take the quick lineout. Crotty's free down the right wing, finds Taylor on the inside and he pops it to Ben Smith to score the try.
2 MINUTES LATER: So, two tries in five minutes since France were unjustly shown the yellow card. Meanwhile, a French player is tackled high and win the penalty. It's Cane the guilty party. So where's the yellow card? Not this time apparently.
2 MINUTES LATER: Parra lines up the tough shot at goal and it falls just under the cross bar before Beauden Barrett drives it long down field with the clearance kick.
2 MINUTES LATER: Lapandry closes the gap at the lineout and is penalised. Surprised the ref didn't reach for the pocket. ABs will have a lineout inside 22m. Meanwhile, Damian McKenzie has replaced Jordie Barrett.
2 MINUTES LATER, ALL BLACKS TRY - IOANE: ABs are driving well. Ioane switches direction to the left wing, Aaron Smith sees him, fires it and the winger's over for the try. Easy as you like.
2 MINUTES LATER, ALL BLACKS TRY - MCKENZIE: Whitelock rips the ball back for the ABs. Taylor's got it, shows the ball, takes it in contact and offloads to a surging McKenzie and he's away! He steps in and out and dives in the right corner to score the try. They're running away with it now.
2 MINUTES LATER, ALL BLACKS TRY - LAUMAPE: McKenzie gets the ball at pace, puts the foot down and he's away once more! He's up over halfway, fires it to Laumape on the right wing, he beats one before bumping off Medard to go over for the try. What pace from DMac and what strength there from Laumape.
2 MINUTES LATER: Barrett tries the bomb and Ben Smith gets up to pt it back ABs way. Barrett now tries the cross-kick but Thomas does well to clean up and steps three players before being tackled in the 22m. France shift right but knock on with an overlap begging.
2 MINUTES LATER: Laumape causing all sorts of problems, busting through another tackle. McKenzie tries to keep it in field in the tackle but the ball rolls over the sideline.
2 MINUTES LATER: Tu’inukuafe finally does something wrong and is penalised. France have the throw inside the 22m. They win it and Medard takes it up and they're just five out.
2 MINUTES LATER, ALL BLACKS TRY - IOANE: Pélissié sees a man unmarked outside him, but his pass is well anticipated by Ioane and the winger intercepts to run away 90 metres to score the try. Thomas tried hard in the chase and almost caught him, but couldn't.
2 MINUTES LATER: McKenzie's free down the right wing once again, he puts the foot down but his feet dragged over the sideline as he dived for the corner. He's been sensational since coming on.
FULL TIME, ALL BLACKS 52 - 11 FRANCE: New Zealand just far too good in the end. It was tight right before the French were given an extremely controversial yellow card, allowing the ABs to run riot in the second half. The All Blacks' bench were sensational. Thanks for joining us.
And the Wallabies have beaten the Irish in convincing fashion in Brisbane while the Springboks dominate England in Johannesburg after being down at one point then Wales won over Argentina in San Juan, preventing a Southern hemisphere sweep while Georgia defeat Tonga in a repeat of the 2015 Rugby World Cup pool game in the Pacific Nations Cup as well as Fiji held on for the win against Samoa who had a tremendous fightback in Suva.
So that is my 205th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 25th of this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment