All Blacks v France
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 12 July
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ
Were the All Blacks caught on the hop by a fired up French team last weekend? Or were the issues on attack of their own making? Scott Robertson is expecting a sharper performance out of his side this Saturday night in a venue where they have struggled for most of the last decade, saying that the up tempo gameplan will continue.
"Play fast, think fast and adapt fast. We've got the skill set to do it,' said Robertson at Thursday's team naming press conference.
"We know with our players, and you've seen that across the whole pack. And it's exciting thing about it, so we'll keep creating. Like I said the other day, if, if the wind suddenly comes in off the Strait, we'll adapt and play to the wind in the rain as well. But our intention is to use our skills as much as we can."
Robertson has largely stuck with the side that won 31-27 in the first test, citing continuity as the main motivator. Timoci Tavatavanawai, who will debut off the bench and replaces Quinn Tupaea, is the only non-injury related change.
Timoci Tavatavanawai, of the Highlanders, takes on the Chiefs' defence in their Super Rugby Pacific match in Hamilton on 19 April 2025. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport
Patrick Tuipulotu comes into the second row for injured skipper Scott Barrett, while Caleb Clarke comes onto the wing to replace Sevu Reece. That's caused probably the most interesting situation with the side, as it means Rieko Ioane moves over to the right wing - somewhere he's barely played at first class level.
"(Rieko) can play either wing. He said to us he can play either wing or centre, so a bit of continuity for him and give me another crack at it."
Continuity was also the reason why two of last weekend's most talked about selections were repeated, with Tupou Vaa'i and Billy Proctor both starting at blindside and centre respectively.
However, it is fair to say that the selections probably weren't the main issue is a first test that ended up being far closer than anyone thought. The application of a gameplan designed to confuse and frustrate the defence led to a few wrong options being taken, even if it did result in the first All Black win over France in seven years.
"We'll go and act on it. So a lot of instinctual like you can see how we set up, across the field to play from anywhere. And if it's on, we'll go."
Jordie Barrett and Théo Attissogbe challenge for the ball in the All Blacks' first test against France this season. Photo: Marty Melville / www.photosport.nz
While that's all well and good, the French plan is almost certainly going to be the same as last weekend too. A heavy diet of long kicks designed to force the All Blacks into running into contact on their own side of halfway paid dividends early on, however Robertson anticipates more contestable possession.
"With no escorting the air battle is about how to tap back, there's a lot of scraps on the ground and that now it's changed a little bit. So the aerial game is critical, and the French are very, very good at it. You know, you look through their club footy right to test footy, how good their kickers are."
The test is sold out, which is a serious statement by the All Blacks and NZ Rugby after plenty of talk in the lead up to this series about the perceived lack of quality of their opposition. Robertson said that the poor results in Wellington - only two wins in their last eight visits - was something the team was hoping to rectify.
"The people, the local whenua. We fully respect the Kamate haka, where it comes from (local Wellington iwi Ngāti Toa). I think it's important we understand that the performance and the ability to call it somewhere that we're really proud of and extremely passionate to play, starts every time we get here, every time we play. People are turning up to see a performance they'll be proud of."
