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How the NZ Super Rugby sides have helped Wallabies for France tests

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Wallabies feel a recent taste of New Zealand rugby has set them up well for the test series against France, which opens next Wednesday in Brisbane.

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Wallabies forwards coach Dan McKellar steered the Brumbies through Super Rugby Trans-Tasman before joining the test set-up for the first time under head coach Dave Rennie.

McKellar said there were similarities in the way France and New Zealand play.

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Quinn Tupaea named to start for the All Blacks and partners Rieko Ioane against Tonga

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Quinn Tupaea named to start for the All Blacks and partners Rieko Ioane against Tonga

“They’ve got threats across the board,” McKellar said of Les Bleus.

“They’re very similar to New Zealanders in terms that they’re dangerous from unstructured environments.

“You turn over the ball, you kick the ball aimlessly they will hurt you from counter attack, from turnover attack.

“And then they present the up front challenge – strong set piece, big men who like to dominate the collisions so we need to make sure that our set piece is on and we have a thirst for that physical challenge and if we do that we give ourselves a chance.”

Wallabies utility back Reece Hodge, in the mix to wear the No.10 jersey in the absence of the injured James O’Connor, said France had southern hemisphere traits in their game style.

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“From what I’ve seen they’ve got the ability to play a structured game but they’re also great on counter attack and off turnover,” Hodge told AAP.

“They’re almost like a hybrid team in terms of northern and southern hemisphere and I think that’s why they’ve had so much success against different types of quality opposition.”

McKellar has tapped into the knowledge of veteran Sitaleki Timani, who spent nine years playing in France, and Matt Philip, who spent the past six months with Top 14 team Pau.

There are six players in the French squad from Timani’s most recent French outfit Clermont and three from Pau.

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“I’ve had some good conversations with both boys, Matty and Sita, around their experiences playing over there and understanding how French teams work and what they focus on and what’s important to them,” McKellar said.

“It’s really good insights to have and we will certainly take that on board.”

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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