Rugby Test Match: Kiwis on the Rebound?

20.06.2009
New Zealand v France in Wellington (2nd test)

Preview
The All Blacks will be hurting deeply after their loss to France last weekend. Excuses don't hold any weight with me for the All Black's display. Last November it didn't matter whether the Kiwis fielded their top lineup or the 'Second XV', they won their test matches regardless.

You can expect a different performance from the Kiwis this week. I'd expect the All Blacks to be a fired up, sharper outfit. Another loss will see heads rolling. France on the other hand will go about their business with a quiet confidence that this team will win this test series in New Zealand. This will be an absorbing test match.

Last Five Encounters
13.06.2009 France 27-22 in Dunedin
06.10.2007 France 20-18 in Cardiff (World Cup, Quarter-final)
09.06.2007 New Zealand 61-10 in Wellington
02.06.2007 New Zealand 42-11 in Auckland
18.11.2006 New Zealand 23-11 in Paris

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-France 1st, New Zealand 2nd

Prediction: New Zealand by 7 points

Teams

New Zealand
15 Mils Muliaina, Capt. (Waikato) Age 28, 69 tests
14 Cory Jane (Wellington) 26, 2
13 Conrad Smith (Wellington) 27, 23
12 Ma'a Nonu (Wellington) 27, 33
11 Josevata Rokocoko (Auckland) 26, 53
10 Stephen Donald (Waikato) 25, 9
9 Jimmy Cowan (Southland) 27, 22
8 Kieran Read (Canterbury) 24, 4
7 Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty) 23, 1
6 Jerome Kaino (Auckland) 26, 15
5 Isaac Ross (Canterbury) 24, 1
4 Brad Thorn (Canterbury) 34, 24
3 Neemia Tialata (Wellington) 26, 32
2 Keven Mealamu (Auckland) 30, 44
1 Tony Woodcock (North Harbour) 28, 49

Replacements
16 Aled de Malmanche (Waikato) 23, New cap
17 John Afoa (Auckland) 25, 14
18 Bryn Evans (Hawkes Bay) 24, 1
19 George Whitelock (Otago) 23, New cap
20 Piri Weepu (Wellington) 25, 29
21 Luke McAlister (North Harbour) 25, 23
22 Isaia Toeava (Couties Manukau) 22, 1
Head Coach: Graham Henry

Injured: Richie McCaw (the usual captain), Rodney So'oialo, Richard Kaku, Ali Williams, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Anthony Boric, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn and Adam Thompson.

France
15 Maxime Medard (Toulouse) Age 21, 9 tests
14 Vincent Clerc (Toulouse) 27, 33
13 Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan) 22, 2
12 Damien Traille (Biarritz) 29, 69
11 Cedric Heymans (Toulouse) 30, 49
10 Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier) 21, 11
9 Julien Dupuy (Leicester, England) 25, 1
8 Louis Picamoles (Montpellier) 22, 13
7 Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier) 22, 15
6 Thierry Dusautoir, Capt. (Toulouse) 27, 23
5 Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse) 25, 8
4 Sebastien Chabal (Sale) 30, 47
3 Nicolas Mas (Perpignan) 28, 24
2 William Servat (Toulouse) 30, 22
1 Fabien Barcella (Biarritz) 24, 7

Replacements
16 Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français) 25, 35
17 Thomas Domingo (Clermont-Auvergne) 23, 3
18 Remy Martin (Bayonne) 29, 21
19 Damien Chouly (Perpignan) 22, 2
20 Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz) 28, 38
21 Florian Fritz (Toulouse) 24, 16
22 Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Français) 20, 3
Head Coach: Marc Lièvremont