QF2: New Zealand v France, 17 October

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NEW ZEALAND v FRANCE

17 October 2015
KO: 20:00 BST (UTC+01)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Live on telly

Ref: Nigel Owens (Wales)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and John Lacey (Ireland)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

A. Head to Head

55 Played 55
42 Won 12
1 Drawn 1
12 Lost 42
1,345 Points 713

B. Recent Form

9 November 2013
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
19 – 26 to New Zealand

22 June 2013
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
24 – 9 to New Zealand

15 June 2013
Rugby League Park, Christchurch
30 – 0 to New Zealand

8 June 2013
Eden Park, Auckland
23 – 13 to New Zealand

23 October 2011
Eden Park, Auckland
8 – 7 to New Zealand

24 September 2011
Eden Park, Auckland
37 – 17 to New Zealand

28 November 2009
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
12 – 39 to New Zealand

20 June 2009
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
14 – 10 to New Zealand

13 June 2009
Carisbrook, Dunedin
22 – 27 to France

6 October 2007
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
18 – 20 to France

C. TEAMS:

NEW ZEALAND

Ben Smith; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams

FRANCE

Scott Spedding; Noa Nakaitaci, Alexandre Dumoulin, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin; Frederic Michalak, Morgan Parra; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Bernard Le Roux, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Damien Chouly, Yannick Nyanga, Rory Kockott, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud

Come now Notch. Saying silly things like that is setting the scene so that you can have a pop at the ABs after the game regardless of the result. So you subscribe to the Michalak school of thought that France have a 2% chance of winning? Neither he, nor you, believe this.

I'm with Nothch here NZ by 25

Of course you are

The ABs should walk this....it all points that way...

Join the bandwagon

Hey now, you're being a little over-zealous. I'm not interested in having a pop at the All Blacks whatever happens. Quarter-final rugby is quarter-final rugby, and it's not the scoreline that matters. You shouldn't care whether its a 5-point margin or a 25-point margin so long as you get the job done.

But honestly, 2% chance of winning sounds about right. Let's look at Frances record over the past few years. Since the last World Cup they have not made the Top 3 of the Six Nations even once- finishing 4th, 6th, 4th and 4th. They have a win rate of just 46% in that period. They were outclassed in their last game by an Ireland team who lost three key players to injury. England put 55 points on them just a few months ago!

I just do not rate them that highly. They are massively physical and will put in some very big carries and hits in defence. But they do not have the brains to go with that brawn.

New Zealand by 3....

Tries.

And a penalty.

France by 26 points

Nooooooooot

These are just opinions everyone's entitled to them except for Cyril

Especially squirrel

Will be rooting for France.
Massive underdogs.

nathan wrote:France by 26 points

Guess you meant you already are on your 26th pint

Anyway hope the score remains respectable. Am off now...

Good luck who cares

If France can get on top in the scrum as I think they may and feed off that, you never know

But I think NZ by 10

France by 5.

Would love it if the French just turned around and mooned the Haka.
They'd get away with it!

Honestly, if France can get there set piece going it could be tight. nZ haven't been playing great

Great start ABs bit nonu should have passed it a few times there!

Soft soft soft penalty

nathan wrote:Soft soft soft penalty

Not like New Zealand to get those.

Anyone got a link for me please?

Great kick, although it does look like his head has been pushed in from the sides

Oooof, painful

About two metres offside...

ME-109 wrote:About two metres offside...

Lol, looked fine to me

Took the 9 out surely?

OMG first time ever an AB has been penalised for Offside....twice...

Danger here...

Not going to help if he misses those

oops

If Spedding can bang them over from 50m why not just let him take them all

Passing to oneself... a skill we don't see much of these days.

Are NZ offside at each kick off?

nathan wrote:Are NZ offside at each kick off?

No, they have quick line speed.

The Loaded Dog wrote:

nathan wrote:Are NZ offside at each kick off?

No, they have quick line speed.

Looks like the player at the bottom is running in front of the kick off

NZ are always offside...just refs dont call them

Hands... Nonu!

The AB's are the better side by miles but they certainly are getting the benefit of the decisions.

Was Crocket just needing a wee rest flopping over like that?

Why is Owens blowing a lot quicker for a kiwi turnovers

This could be a rout

End of game...as a contest

Lovely offload

Did Crockett just drop an elbow

This is getting ugly for France

Could be clean sweep for the South this weekend.

Riskysports wrote:Did Crockett just drop an elbow

On the player getting treatment?

Well.. That's that then

How was macaw not pinged there!