The All
Blacks have made three changes to their starting XV to take
on France in Marseille tomorrow (Saturday) evening.
Prop
Neemia Tialata, flanker Jerome Kaino and winger Cory Jane
have come in for Adam Thomson, Owen Franks and Zac Guildford
as Graham Henry’s team aim to end their European tour with a
bang.
Standing
in their way is a French side flush with confidence after
their successes against South Africa and Samoa, and also in
New Zealand during the summer. It is all set for a classic
encounter down at the impressive Stade Velodrome as two of
the world’s in-form teams go head-to-head in what could be
the highlight of the November international series.
France
coach Marc Lièvremont has been in bullish mood all week,
attempting to strike a balance between confidence and
respect as his team prepares for a key match in their
continued development towards the 2011 World Cup.
The
former international flanker experimented a vast number of
selections during his initial two years in charge, but now
appears settled on a core group of players which blends
experience with youthful vigour.
"The
journey of a tam's confidence and the implementation of its
plans are very long processes. These last two years we have
learned to be patient. In recent matches, New Zealand have
impressed and returned to a certain level, not to mention
the eceptional psychological aspect and the desire for
revenge," he said.
There's
little doubt the All Blacks - who will play in all white -
would love to make avenge their 27-22 defeat by France in
Dunedin in June, but both coaches have been quick to
acknowledge that key personnel have changed from that
encounter.
New
Zealand were without both Dan Carter and Richie McCaw for
that clash, two of the world's best players. But France were
also without a hatful of internationals at the end of a
gruelling domestic season, so the Marseille clash has to be
treated for what it is - a mouthwatering one-off match.
France
beat New Zealand 42-33 in their only previous encounter in
Marseille - nine years ago - and All Blacks coach Graham
Henry admitted Saturday's clash would be "another huge Test"
for his squad following recent wins against Australia,
Wales, Italy and England.
Both
sides are at near full-strength, with Lièvremont's only real
selection headache coming in the back row following the
withdrawal of both number eight Louis Picamoles and flanker
Imanol Harinordoquy. Clermont Auvergne's Julien Bonnaire has
won the flanking berth, alongside captain Thierry Dusautoir,
while Montpellier's fit-again Fulgence Ouedraogo has been
called up to plug the number eight slot.
Picamoles' absence is a particular blow to France after a
massive game against the Springboks, but Ouedraogo is one of
Lièvremont's crop of rising young stars. The hugely talented
Maxime Médard (23) is another who falls into that category,
and the Stade Toulousain player has been recalled to play on
the wing following the injury which sidelined 20-year-old
Benjamin Fall.
Other
emerging talents for 'Les Bleus' include lock Romain
Millo-Chluski (26), prop Fabien Barcella (26), fly-half
Francois Trinh-Duc (23) and replacement centre Yann David
(21). On the flip side France can also count on the
international savvy of players such as full-back Damien
Traille (72 caps), centre Yannick Jauzion (62 caps), winger
Vincent Clerc (38 caps) and front row veteran Sylvain
Marconnet (73 caps). It is a combination which is beginning
to flourish and offer real optimism for the next two years
as France build towards their ultimate goal of success in
the 2011 World Cup.
Traille has been recalled at full-back to
counter the kicking threat of Carter, a duty he fulfilled
expertly against South Africa a fortnight ago, while Clerc
goes into the match looking to continue his rich recent form
after tries against both the Springboks and Samoa. At
scrum-half Lièvremont has opted for Stade Francais' Julien
Dupuy ahead of Morgan Parra.
Carter's
presence in Marseille has been much talked about all week,
and the former Perpignan fly-half is clearly relishing going
up against some of his former team-mates.
"Over the last couple of years, there's been
a great rivalry with the French and it's always been an
extremely tough challenge," said New Zealand's new record
scorer. "This game being the last Test of the year for us,
we really want to give it everything," he added.
Carter is expecting more of the physicality
that France displayed against South Africa. "They'll be
looking to get some forward domination and really put us
under a lot of pressure so we have to lift and play better
than we have done in the last couple of weeks. I'm confident
we can go out there and be physical and get good clean ball
and play some open rugby, and hopefully we'll have the
chance to play an attacking running style of play which I
like to do."
He also said the All Blacks had tried to
prepare themselves for what is bound to be a fiercely
partizan crowd down in Marseille.
"Wayne Smith has talked to us a little bit
about the atmosphere and what to expect. He was coaching the
All Black side in 2000 and he's never experienced anything
like it. We'll just have to handle that and make sure we
concentrate on the job, that we're going to the ground to
play and obviously win the game."
The appreciation is clearly mutual with
Perpignan and France centre David Marty saying he hadn't
spotted any weaknesses in the Kiwi's game. "He is flawless.
He is a complete player, a match-winner and his strongest
point is maybe his ability to dissect the game of his
opponents in front of a video and on the pitch," said Marty.
Fly-half Trinh-Duc was similarly effusive. "I
never had the opportunity to face him. He is the best number
10 in the world and to face him is a dream come true," said
the Montpellier play-maker.
Meanwhile, Samoa-born full-back Mils Muliaina will become
New Zealand's second-most capped international on Saturday
as he passes Justin Marshall's tally of 81. The only player
ahead of him now is former skipper and hooker Sean
Fitzpatrick, who won 92 caps between 1986 and 1997.
Muliaina, who captained New Zealand against France during
the summer in McCaw's absence, is expecting a full-blooded
encounter. "From
what we've seen of the French team we'll only get limited
opportunities and we've got to take them all because we
won't get too many. It's going to be a tough battle and a
very tight match," he said.
"There's no doubting how big a game this is
for us given how we went this year and how the French have
gone so far in the autumn season," added the experienced
full-back.
Teams
France: Damien Traille;
Vincent Clerc, David Marty, Yannick Jauzion, Maxime Médard;
Francois Trinh-Duc, Julien Dupuy; Fabien Barcella, William
Servat, Sylvain Marconnet, Sebastien Chabal, Romain
Millo-Chluski, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Fulgence Ouedraogo,
Julien Bonnaire.
Replacements:
Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Lionel
Nallet, Julien Puricelli, Morgan Parra, Yann David, Cedric
Heymans.
New Zealand:
Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a
Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Tony
Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Brad Thorn, Tom
Donnelly, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read.
Replacements:
Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Anthony Boric,
Tanerau Latimer, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Luke McAlister.
Referee:
Alain Rolland (Ireland)
** Italy
captain and Stade Francais number eight Sergio Parisse
has been ruled out for up to six months after suffering a
training-ground knee ligament injury. The 26-year-old is
facing possible surgery and will now miss Italy's Six
Nations campaign as well Stade's remaining Heineken Cup
group matches.
