Dave Rennie has named his first All Blacks Test side for France at Te Kaha Stadium. The match kicks off at 7.10pm NZST, and the coach has opted for a mix of experience and youth in a selection shaped by recent Super Rugby Pacific form.
Ruben Love starts between Cam Roigard and Jordie Barrett
Ruben Love is set to start at first five-eighths, with Rennie saying he sits between Cam Roigard and Jordie Barrett, which will give him a lot of comfort with combination and connection. He also described Love as really confident and clear.
Damian McKenzie at fullback and Will Jordan on the wing fit the game the All Blacks want to play. Rennie said Jordan will get his hands on the ball a lot, and that having a couple of players in the backfield with that sort of skill set gives the side a chance to attack when it is on.
Luke Jacobson and Pete Lakai bring contact
Luke Jacobson will give the side a physical presence in the tight. Pete Lakai and Ardie Savea are set to add post-tackle presence, with Rennie saying both are excellent athletes who suit the All Blacks’ type of game.
He also said the group will need to be physical, accurate and alert against France, and that the team wants to kick on its own terms. Neil Barnes added that being clear and simple in their aspirations will be key in the first outing of the winter.
France, rankings and the first Test
The Test comes with a familiar edge. New Zealand leads France 51-15 in 67 Tests, with one drawn, and the All Blacks completed a clean sweep in their last three-Test series in New Zealand by winning 31-27 in Dunedin, 43-17 in Wellington and 29-19 in Hamilton.
Heading into the Nations Championship, New Zealand was ranked second in the world on 90.33 points, with South Africa first, while France sat fourth on 87.46 points. Rennie called the fixture an opportunity to challenge as many of the best French rugby players as possible, and said France have a new coach and have not played for eight months.
For the All Blacks, this selection is the first hard read on how Rennie wants the side to function: contact up front, width and ball use out wide, and enough clarity to let Love operate between Roigard and Barrett without being buried in the noise of a first Test.
