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Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next
By Ben Smith
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.)
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
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...
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.
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.
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.
This article is proof that if you leave a monkey with a keyboard long enough, it might write something that makes sense.
🤣🤣🤣
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So France are the real alpha team of Europe.? Interesting take. I would've thought that was Ireland.? (well up until last wknd 😁
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?
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.
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.
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I'm really hoping to see Dupont and Roigard go toe to toe
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.
Let's go! 🏉🖤🤍
This may be the first time I agree with Ben Smith.
Begrudgingly same here
For once I completely disagree with you. BS from BS.
Missing Sam Cane is huge
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.