@sparky said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Time to start a match thread.

According to Chat GTP this will be the All Blacks team.

1. E. De Groot
2. S. Taukei'aho Taylor
3. T. Lomax
4. S. Barrett (c)
5. T. Vaa'i
6. S. Finau
7. D. Kirifi Savea
8. A. Savea CLW
9. C. Roigard
10. B. Barrett probably
11. C. Clarke
12. J. Barrett
13. B. Proctor wouldn't be surprised at Rioane
14. S. Reece or Rioane here
15. W. Jordan

---

16. C. Taylor Samisoni
17. O. Norris
18. F. Newell how fit is he? Tosi obvious choice if not
19. F. Holland
20. L. Jacobson
21. C. Ratima
22. D.McKenzie
23. R.Ioane Tupaea if RI starts

My thoughts on ChatGPT's pick.

Likely French 23 according to Chat GTP and after a few reminders about who isn't in New Zealand.

1. Damba
2. Bourgarit
3. Slimani
4. Taofifenua
5. Guillard
6. Woki
7. Abadie
8. Tatafu
9. Le Garrec
10. Hastoy
11. Attisogbe
12. Gailleton
13. Fickou (c)
14. Villère
15. Barré

16. Barlot
17. Beria
18. Montagne
19. Brennan
20. Fischer
21. Jauneau
22. Berdeu
23. Depoortère

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Time to start a match thread.

According to Chat GTP this will be the All Blacks team.

1. E. De Groot
2. S. Taukei'aho
3. T. Lomax
4. S. Barrett (c)
5. T. Vaa'i
6. S. Finau
7. D. Kirifi
8. A. Savea
9. C. Roigard
10. B. Barrett
11. C. Clarke
12. J. Barrett
13. B. Proctor
14. S. Reece
15. W. Jordan

---

16. C. Taylor
17. O. Norris
18. F. Newell
19. F. Holland
20. L. Jacobson
21. C. Ratima
22. D.McKenzie
23. R.Ioane

I'd be pretty happy with this lineup tbh. When is the side actually being named?

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Tatafu

Well, tell it to keep on trying because (1) Tevita Tatafu isn't in the touring squad, and (2) the French-eligible Tatafu is the one from Bayonne who plays tighthead prop, not the Bordeaux number 8 who plays for Japan.

Also, it's Berdeu, not Bardou.

Jesus., we can do better than AI slop right.

Doesn't seem the usual level of excitement for a French test on here. There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

This is what the French press is predicting as the probable starting 15, which is genuinely a bonkers selection:

La compo probable du XV de France pour affronter la Nouvelle-Zélande : Erdocio, Barlot, Slimani - Auradou, Duguid - Fischer, Guillard, Tixeront, - Le Garrec, Segonds ou Hastoy - Fickou, Gailleton - Duguivalu, Attisogbé, Moustin ou Spring.

(source, French Eurosport: https://www.eurosport.fr/rugby/mickael-guillard-et-gael-fickou-en-tauliers-de-linexperimente-devant-la-compo-probable-du-xv-de-france-pour-affronter-les-all-blacks_sto23197544/story.shtml)

So that's Guillard at 8, the Canadian Duguid at lock, uncapped loosehead Erdocio from Montpellier, Fijian Duguivalu (also uncapped) on the wing, Spring or Moustin at fullback.

That's pretty wild.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

When is the side actually being named?

Thursday, of course.

@Mauss Chat GTP really couldn't get its artificial intelligence around this French squad. Based on the Twickenham game against England A ten days ago which the France team one, the French should start and finish the game well on Saturday but the ABs should be too good for the middle part of the match.

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Jesus., we can do better than AI slop right.

We will. But only once the teams are named.

@Mauss Big set of forwards..........

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@Mauss Big set of forwards..........

They're definitely tall, both Tixeront and Guillard are 1.95m+ loose forwards. The plan might be to go after the (likely) undersized AB back five at lineouts and restarts.

But they are incredibly inexperienced, though. The starting 15 would have an average age of 25 with an average of 14 caps across the starting side. And that average is strongly lifted by the presence of Slimani (57 caps) and Fickou (94 caps). None of the other players have more than 10 Test caps.

The ABs need to put pressure on this side from the opening whistle and try to make the match as uncomfortable as possible right from the start.

@Mauss Le Garrec, Fickou and Attisogbe are all quality players who were key parts of the 2025 French Six Nations squad.

The rest are either guys coming back to international rugby after a long break or players with zero or almost zero international experience.

The All Blacks really should win this game relatively comfortably.

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

Pitchforks will be out regardless....ABs are in a no win situation for this game.

Thrash them - played shit, poor skills, poor decisions
Close win - should have thrashed them
Loss - should have thrashed this shit French team

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

Pitchforks will be out regardless....ABs are in a now win situation for this game.

Thrash them - played shit, poor skills, poor decisions
Close win - should have thrashed them
Loss - should have thrashed this shit French team

Don’t forget if we play and win well there will be the

“we’ve shown our hand too early”
“it all matters what we do against the Boks”
“we should’ve blooded [insert any name that wasn’t selected]”

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

Pitchforks will be out regardless....ABs are in a no win situation for this game.

Thrash them - played shit, poor skills, poor decisions
Close win - should have thrashed them
Loss - should have thrashed this shit French team

I believe we won last 2 out of 5 against France.
If they send a B or C side, thrash em.
If they send an A side thrash em more... the cheese-eating surrender monkeys ..

Reiko 11, Vaa'i 6

Yuk for number 6. Best place for Ioane though. I thought those might be finishing options, not starting ones.

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Reiko 11, Vaa'i 6

Does that mean Holland starts? That would be ballsy.

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Reiko 11, Vaa'i 6

when Razor said Locks would cover 6....i thought he more meant late in the game after some subs.....not that he thought someone that has played more at lock than anywhere else....is better than any 6 we have in the country and will be starting

looool

i had decided that i would try just being a fan this year. What ever team was picked, i would support them, go team! and such.

And the first fucking leak has me already questioning that whole stance.

Lio Willie 8

Move our best lock to 6. Sounds like a good idea.

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Lio Willie 8

Of course he is.

fuck being a professional rugby player aye? you could be the best left wing or blindside in the country....and they start someone whos played 13 for years and a lock :cat_face_with_tears_of_joy:

you'd have to take it personally

Think I'll await nogusta or that highlanders bloke. That would be retarded

@Bones just saying my mail and he said his contact is around 80 percent correct.

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@Bones just saying my mail and he said his contact is around 80 percent correct.

"just saying my mail"?

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@Bones just saying my mail and he said his contact is around 80 percent correct.

Viva la 20%

@nostrildamus I think they really, really like Holland. It really wouldn't surprise me if Vaa'i starts 6 especially when most of the French backrow seem to be Locks......

Why would Va’ai be at 6 when we have Finau ready to go, makes no sense.

Can a historically more reliable source back up what @george33 is saying?

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Lio Willie 8

A solid battler. What's he offer though that will stretch and break Test-quality defences?

@Canes4life I'm just putting out there what I've been told

@george33 So these changes are confirmed Ardie 7

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@george33 So these changes are confirmed Ardie 7

are you only being drip fed one name at a time or can you drop a "rumoured XV"?

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@Canes4life I'm just putting out there what I've been told

How many times have you said this and been way off?

@Kiwiwomble drip feed, can't name whole team might get couple more yet

@Canes4life many times just putting out what I've been told

@george33 Holland will start , probably all new that tho.

Anyone know yet what the final score will be on Saturday? What are your sauces telling you?