All Blacks and France Collide Again in a High-Stakes Wellington Showdown
This Saturday night in Wellington, the All Blacks face off once again against France in what promises to be a thrilling second test of the series. Sky Stadium is buzzing with anticipation as fans pack in to witness whether New Zealand can build on their narrow 31-27 victory from last week in Dunedin. It wasn't the most clinical of performances, but a win is a win—and under the new leadership of coach Scott Robertson and stand-in captain Ardie Savea, the All Blacks are determined to sharpen their execution.
France, meanwhile, come into this match with their tails up. Despite fielding a youthful side full of debutants in the first test, they pushed the All Blacks all the way. Now, with ten changes to their lineup, they’re aiming to break a historic curse—they’ve never beaten New Zealand in Wellington. Not once. And the irony isn’t lost on rugby historians that Wellington bears the name of the man who defeated the French at the Battle of Waterloo.
Looking at the squads, both teams are dealing with injury disruptions. Caleb Clarke was ruled out last minute with an ankle injury during training, making way for Emoni Narawa to start on the wing. Rieko Ioane switches sides, filling Clarke’s spot on the left. Several other key players remain sidelined, including captain Scott Barrett and wing Sevu Reece, forcing the All Blacks to tap into their depth.
France have shuffled their deck too. Led by Gaetan Barlot, the visitors field a fresh starting XV and seem undeterred by Wellington's rainy, blustery conditions. They’ve made it clear—they’re not just here to compete, they’re here to win.
Also Read:- Naruki Teranishi Eyes Second Win with Quiet Determination
- Bonfires, Asbestos, and Hate Symbols: Northern Ireland Faces Fiery Controversies
The historical numbers heavily favour the All Blacks. In 65 previous meetings, New Zealand has come out on top 49 times, France only 15, and there’s been just one draw. In Wellington specifically, France have never found success, with their most recent attempt in 2018 ending in a 26-13 loss, hampered by an early red card.
But this isn’t just about stats. This is about pride, legacy, and pressure. The All Blacks know they need to clean up the errors that plagued them in Dunedin. They had three tries disallowed and were kept on the back foot at times by a French side brimming with ambition and physicality.
Ardie Savea, now at the helm, summed it up best: “We’ve got to be more clinical. Play in the right parts of the field. The French showed up last week and they’ll do it again. It’s our job to be ready.”
All eyes will be on key matchups—Beauden Barrett’s experience at fly-half, the Barrett brothers combining again, and the All Blacks’ powerful bench, including Damian McKenzie, poised to bring energy in the final quarter. For France, young talents like Nolann Le Garrec and Leo Barré are looking to write their names into French rugby folklore.
Kick-off is at 7:05pm and if the first test was anything to go by, we’re in for a nail-biter. Rain or shine, Sky Stadium is set to host a clash that could go down as one of the defining matches of the series.
It’s the All Blacks. It’s France. And it’s far from over.
Read More:
0 Comments