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Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

(Photos By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images and Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

For Scott Robertson’s All Blacks, France might well be the toughest assignment of the year.

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There is mystery surrounding this French team after they had a lacklustre Six Nations without Dupont, playing with an apparent World Cup hangover.

With Dupont back after his Olympic gold medal they were particularly dominant against Japan. Dupont looked like he was having a training run in cruise control. They are already flying under the radar after dishing up tripe in the Six Nations.

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After the high of knocking off the world number one Ireland side the risk is that the All Blacks fail to recognise the real alpha in Europe.

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Hint, it’s not the post-Sexton Ireland team. It’s France with Dupont, the crouching tiger who will physically maul apart the All Blacks if they aren’t ready.

The world class No 9 has a rare, favourable record over the All Blacks in his career with two wins from three Test matches, all of which have been played at Stade de France.

The first of which was perhaps his best outing against New Zealand as a raw 21-year-old. Despite losing the game, Dupont produced a man-of-the-match type performance that sent a warning to the world.

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The 2017 All Blacks were still dominant and had very few rivals. The British & Irish Lions challenged them, but few nations on their own could. England were the only worthy adversary at the time.

In his first start for France the No 9 ripped New Zealand for three or four line breaks and beat defenders at will. They were outgunned 31-5 in the first half but finished down 38-18. What Dupont inflicted on the All Blacks had not been seen by one individual player for decades.

The next time the two nations would meet in 2021, Dupont had become the world’s best player. His awe-inducing play had become frequent with displays of genius in every Test.

This hyper-athletic scrumhalf ran with the agility of a wing and possessed the strength of a back rower. His low centre of gravity made him like a ball of granite, yet his offloading, and ball-playing added another dimension. His vision and instincts were just on a different level.

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France’s low risk game plan with kicking for territory all day was countered by these spurts of brilliance from Dupont and Ntamack letting loose and conjuring up magic. Incredulously, titles still alluded Dupont with France. Wales had captured the 2021 Six Nations with Les Bleus finishing runners up.

The 2021 November test against the All Blacks marked a breakthrough for France. The All Blacks had been defeated by Ireland the week before, and came to Paris with the nation’s expectations of bouncing back.

Dupont and Ntamack opened up Foster’s feeble team within minutes for a big line break. A maul try was followed by Ntamack slicing past Mo’unga for a 14-6 lead. Another maul try had France up 24-6 at the break.

An All Black fightback came, but brilliance from Ntamack to escape from his own in-goal turned the tables for France. A yellow card to Ardie Savea restored a five-point lead, before David Havili threw an intercept pass to Damian Penaud.

That November win was partly a catalyst for France’s 2022 Grand Slam and undefeated calendar year, while the All Blacks would go through the most turbulent time since 1998.

They wouldn’t meet again until the 2023 Rugby World Cup opener, a night built for France and Dupont who by this stage had become the face of rugby.

Stade de France that night felt like the Colosseum, full of expectation that the All Blacks would be slaughtered for the baying public. It was a celebratory mood, with the full confidence that this generational French team would take down the mighty All Blacks. And they did.

Dupont wasn’t required to produce much. A dominant scrum offered up points through Thomas Ramos’ boot, while All Blacks inaccuracies in the air cost more penalties. A late try to Melvyn Jaminet made the scoreline look worse than it was at 27-13.

Ultimately the All Blacks would get closer to the World Cup title than France, who had to come to terms with their shock quarter-final exit.

The 2024 Six Nations proved that France with Dupont are a different beast. He was the MVP of the Six Nations without being there, as France were directionless and insipid without him.

He might not travel much with the national team, but Stade de France is his yard. The All Blacks are stepping in to a dog fight with a pit bull they need to keep on a very, very short leash.

Watch the exclusive reveal-all episode of Walk the Talk with Ardie Savea as he chats to Jim Hamilton about the RWC 2023 experience, life in Japan, playing for the All Blacks and what the future holds. Watch now for free on RugbyPass TV

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Comments

93 Comments
B
BA 6 days ago

For those who watch him play regular how is DuPont when he is going backwards

B
BA 6 days ago

DuPont is the biz but can overplay his hand on 7s series he blew quite a few tries in some of the games trying to go all the way but getting mowed down still mean try in gold medal match

J
JW 6 days ago

What sort of age readership is BS going for with his 'hints' do you reckon? 9's?


And yet Dmac provided a similar masterclass to Dupont against Japan, and we hear nothing. France looked sublime but ultimately they didn't perform as well as a second string All Black side did.


New Zealand has a couple of their own Dupont's for France to worry about.

S
SK 7 days ago

If France can actually get their game going they have the forwards to really nail this AB's pack. They have arguably the most powerful forward pack in the World with only SA really capable of taking them on. They also have plenty of explosive back field runners who can do damage and a territory game to put you under pressure all day long. They need their defence to stand up and they need to ensure they play this game on their terms.

J
JW 6 days ago

Really? They look understrength to me, have you been following their form? Not that NZ look crazy good anyway, flooded with youngsters.


Their backs look especially lacking however at 10,12, and 13. Looking forward to finding out what the fullback has, hope for their sake he can backpedal as well as James Lowe.

G
GrandDisse 7 days ago

Don't think so. Too many key players missing, lack of collective experience - in particular with the new set of rules. Besides, the french staff is apparently going to make some gambles with the squad. I don't see the current AB team losing.

D
DrinkAwayTheConcussion 7 days ago

George Bell needs to start.

He should never have been picked in the first place, but here we are, a whole season on and he’s had some minutes against Fiji (played great) and they let him have a run on the field against Ireland just long enough to get his boot laces wet.

If he’s truely any good, Razor, then back him.

Stop with the corporate learnings focus solutions led bollocks talk and let’s see if being ‘in the environment’ is actually developing these guys or if it’s just a Crusader/Canterbury bias jobs for the boy’s selection.

The team is functioning well enough now to slot in the rookie in a key position against a real country. (Italy doesn’t count.)

K
KB 7 days ago

Your over the target - they are Europes Alpha Male - however Dupont was outplayed by Smith when they played against each other at the RWC - Roigard must Start - this battle will decide the winner

B
B 7 days ago

Armistice Day and the All Black Captain David Gallaher Trophy is the motivation.

The alpha French currently hold it and will face their Alpha All Black opposition who would like nothing more than to win it back.

Hope fully the weather stays fine enough to enable a great running and hard hitting game to play out.

Go the All Blacks...communication, motivation with synergy...onwards and upwards...

C
CO 7 days ago

Quality halfback that's become massively over hyped. Stands only five foot nine and has never won a world cup.


Aaron Smith better overall with a world cup winners medal.


The same can be said for Faf de Klerk. The French are a quality side but will be meeting a very different Allblacks pack this year.


Allblacks by ten or more.

M
Matt Perry 7 days ago

Absolutely ludicrous idea from some fans that if you, an individual playing a team sport, don't play for a team that wins a World Cup then you can't be considered a great player.

H
Hellhound 7 days ago

I disagree. Not overhyped. Du Point is really that good. Overall very balanced player. One player though doesn't make a team. There is no I in team. As for Faf de Klerk, he is a double WC winner. Very hard to argue that. He may not be what he once was, but is still a very good player. I have the AB's by 12-15.

B
Bull Shark 7 days ago

This article is proof that if you leave a monkey with a keyboard long enough, it might write something that makes sense.

J
Jen 5 days ago

😂

H
Hellhound 6 days ago

🤣🤣🤣

S
SC 7 days ago

🤣

L
LRB 7 days ago

So France are the real alpha team of Europe.? Interesting take. I would've thought that was Ireland.? (well up until last wknd 😁

B
Bull Shark 7 days ago

Well all the NH teams have looked pretty subpar - except for Scotland who were easy on the eye but still lost by 17 points at home.


I hope the NH ups its game. Not 12 months ago it was declared that the game of rugby belonged to the NH.


That was short lived wasn’t it?

H
Hellhound 7 days ago

I don't agree with that assesment. They are putting forth a 2nd team. One or two players doesn't make a team. No matter how good they are. The AB's came of a 35 - 7 thrashing by the Boks.


The confidence was low, they were in turmoil with a coach who already lost his job. The NZ team the French are going to face is not as weak as the one they faced in the WC.


Smacks of entitlement because of a previous result nearly a year ago. Much has happened since and the AB's from the WC vs the AB's from today is vastly different.


The French is going to get mauled if they put out anything less than their very best players. NZ is just going from strength to strength. Thinking because they lost to Argentina in TRC shows how weak they are, is a mistake. Argentina is playing great rugby at the moment. The Boks didn't underestimated them and still lost in their first game against Argentina.


My prediction is the AB's by 12-15 points winning margin.

J
JW 5 days ago

Nar it's more because NZ know all there is to know about winning a RWC and blowing your gasket in your first game, like Ireland did, is one of the best ways to fail at the task.

J
JPM 7 days ago

Both teams are missing key injured players. Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Penaud for France. But certainly not a B team. You might be surprised by some young players. Certainly a fantastic game between two teams (and hopefully fans) who respect each other.

J
Jacque 7 days ago

🤣

T
Tk 7 days ago

I'm really hoping to see Dupont and Roigard go toe to toe

B
Bull Shark 7 days ago

Me too.


However, I think Roigard would win that fight hands down. Unfair reach advantage. While Dupont is as wide as he his tall, he is still only about knee high to Roigard.

L
Larry B 7 days ago

Let's go! 🏉🖤🤍

B
Bull Shark 7 days ago

This may be the first time I agree with Ben Smith.

k
kk 7 days ago

Begrudgingly same here

H
Hellhound 7 days ago

For once I completely disagree with you. BS from BS.

G
GL 7 days ago

Missing Sam Cane is huge

B
Bull Shark 7 days ago

This is a difficult time of the year to feel lonely.


If you miss him so much, give him a call. You may find he misses you too.

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J
JW 35 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Ok, managed to read the full article..

... New Zealand’s has only 14 and the professional season is all over within four months. In France, club governance is the responsibility of an independent organisation [the Ligue Nationale de Rugby or LNR] which is entirely separate from the host union [the Fédération Française de Rugby or FFR]. Down south New Zealand Rugby runs the provincial and the national game.

That is the National Provincial Championship, a competition of 14 representative union based teams run through the SH international window and only semi professional (paid only during it's running). It is run by NZR and goes for two and a half months.


Super Rugby is a competition involving 12 fully professional teams, of which 5 are of New Zealand eligibility, and another joint administered team of Pacific Island eligibility, with NZR involvement. It was a 18 week competition this year, so involved (randomly chosen I believe) extra return fixtures (2 or 3 home and away derbys), and is run by Super Rugby Pacific's own independent Board (or organisation). The teams may or may not be independently run and owned (note, this does not necessarily mean what you think of as 'privately owned').


LNR was setup by FFR and the French Government to administer the professional game in France. In New Zealand, the Players Association and Super Rugby franchises agreed last month to not setup their own governance structure for professional rugby and re-aligned themselves with New Zealand Rugby. They had been proposing to do something like the English model, I'm not sure how closely that would have been aligned to the French system but it did not sound like it would have French union executive representation on it like the LNR does.

In the shaky isles the professional pyramid tapers to a point with the almighty All Blacks. In France the feeling for country is no more important than the sense of fierce local identity spawned at myriad clubs concentrated in the southwest. Progress is achieved by a nonchalant shrug and the wide sweep of nuanced negotiation, rather than driven from the top by a single intense focus.

Yes, it is pretty much a 'representative' selection system at every level, but these union's are having to fight for their existence against the regime that is NZR, and are currently going through their own battle, just as France has recently as I understand it. A single focus, ala the French game, might not be the best outcome for rugby as a whole.


For pure theatre, it is a wonderful article so far. I prefer 'Ntamack New Zealand 2022' though.

The young Crusader still struggles to solve the puzzle posed by the shorter, more compact tight-heads at this level but he had no problem at all with Colombe.

It was interesting to listen to Manny during an interview on Maul or Nothing, he citied that after a bit of banter with the All Black's he no longer wanted one of their jersey's after the game. One of those talks was an eye to eye chat with Tamaiti Williams, there appear to be nothing between the lock and prop, just a lot of give and take. I thought TW angled in and caused Taylor to pop a few times, and that NZ were lucky to be rewarded.

f you have a forward of 6ft 8ins and 145kg, and he is not at all disturbed by a dysfunctional set-piece, you are in business.

He talked about the clarity of the leadership that helped alleviate any need for anxiety at the predicaments unfolding before him. The same cannot be said for New Zealand when they had 5 minutes left to retrieve a match winning penalty, I don't believe. Did the team in black have much of a plan at any point in the game? I don't really call an autonomous 10 vehicle they had as innovative. I think Razor needs to go back to the dealer and get a new game driver on that one.

Vaa’i is no match for his power on the ground. Even in reverse, Meafou is like a tractor motoring backwards in low gear, trampling all in its path.

Vaa'i actually stops him in his tracks. He gets what could have been a dubious 'tackle' on him?

A high-level offence will often try to identify and exploit big forwards who can be slower to reload, and therefore vulnerable to two quick plays run at them consecutively.

Yes he was just standing on his haunches wasn't he? He mentioned that in the interview, saying that not only did you just get up and back into the line to find the opposition was already set and running at you they also hit harder than anything he'd experienced in the Top 14. He was referring to New Zealands ultra-physical, burst-based Super style of course, which he was more than a bit surprised about. I don't blame him for being caught out.


He still sent the obstruction back to the repair yard though!

What wouldn’t the New Zealand rugby public give to see the likes of Mauvaka and Meafou up front..

Common now Nick, don't go there! Meafou showed his Toulouse shirt and promptly got his citizenship, New Zealand can't have him, surely?!?


As I have said before with these subjects, really enjoy your enthusiasm for their contribution on the field and I'd love to see more of their shapes running out for Vern Cotter and the like styled teams.

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