Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV
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French XV will have seasoned test locks and gnarly experienced Top 14 props. Backs will all have a fair number of caps each. Trinh Duc has been released to play. Sole area where they'll be very green is back row, where only Lauret has any test experience.
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NEWS | The All Blacks team has been named to play a French XV in the third match of the Vista 2017 All Blacks Northern Tour at Groupama Stadium (Parc Olympique Lyonnais) in Lyon on Tuesday 14 November.
The matchday 23 is as follows (with Test caps. Players making their first All Blacks appearance are in bold):
- Tim Perry
- Nathan Harris (9)
- Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (1)
- Patrick Tuipulotu (15)
- Dominic Bird (2)
- Liam Squire (13)
- Ardie Savea (22)
- Luke Whitelock (1) - captain
- Tawera Kerr-Barlow (27)
- Lima Sopoaga (13)
- Seta Tamanivalu (3)
- Ngani Laumape (4)
- Jack Goodhue
- Matt Duffie
- David Havili (3)
- Asafo Aumua
- Atu Moli
- Ofa Tu'ungafasi (12)
- Scott Barrett (15)
- Akira Ioane
- Dillon Hunt
- Mitch Drummond
- Richie Mo'unga
Loose forward Luke Whitelock, who was called into the All Blacks squad last week, will captain the All Blacks for the first time in what is a young, exciting All Blacks team. Fourteen players from the team which played the Barbarians return to the matchday 23 and six new All Blacks have been named: Jack Goodhue is at centre, while on the reserves bench Atu Moli has been named as prop cover. Akira Ioane and Dillon Hunt are loose forward cover off the bench. Mitch Drummond is reserve halfback and Richie Mo'unga is the other reserve back.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: "This is another exciting opportunity for a young, group of men to go out and experience what it's like to wear the All Blacks jersey and deal with all the pressures that come with that. We are sure that they will represent themselves, their families and the All Blacks proudly.
"Whilst Luke Whitelock is only playing his second game for the All Blacks, he was an obvious choice as captain given his experience and leadership as captain of both the Highlanders and Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup team. On behalf of the All Blacks, we'd like to congratulate Luke as well as the players who are pulling on the black jersey for the first time. It will be a proud moment for all of them."
Hansen added: "This match was included in the Vista Northern Tour itinerary at our request to allow us to provide an extra opportunity for this group. It'll allow us to continue to grow our depth, which will not only bode well for the here and now, but also 2019 and well beyond.
"This group has trained well and we're looking forward to watching them play at this level. We're expecting another boisterous crowd of 60,000 in Lyon which will create an exciting atmosphere for them and we're all looking forward to it."
Key notes
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Luke Whitelock will become the 133nd player to captain the All Blacks. 68 players have captained the Test side while Whitelock will become the 64th to captain the side in a non-Test.
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The Lyon match does not carry Test status so Test caps aren't awarded to those All Blacks who play in the match.
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The All Blacks have played in Lyon six times since 1964, with the last match against France in 2006 at Stade de Gerland, which the All Blacks won 47-3.
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FRANCE : Spedding – Lacroix, Chavancy, Danty, Bonneval - (o) Trinh-Duc, (m) Lesgourgues – Tauleigne, Macalou, Lauret - Maestri, Taofifenua – Hamadache, Chat, Priso
Remplaçants : Tolofua, Boughanmi, Pointud, Le Devedec, Sanconnie, Machenaud, Plisson, Rattez -
Laumape-Goodhue me like
I thought that article the other day said Luke was heading home today?
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@pakman said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
FRANCE : Spedding – Lacroix, Chavancy, Danty, Bonneval - (o) Trinh-Duc, (m) Lesgourgues – Tauleigne, Macalou, Lauret - Maestri, Taofifenua – Hamadache, Chat, Priso
Remplaçants : Tolofua, Boughanmi, Pointud, Le Devedec, Sanconnie, Machenaud, Plisson, RattezLesgourgues is the danger man with fire legs. We have plenty of very good 9 in France, if only the other 14 players could be as good...
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@taniwharugby said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
Laumape-Goodhue me like
I thought that article the other day said Luke was heading home today?
No Luke heads home after the mid week game.
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@wurzel said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
The All Blacks have played in Lyon six times since 1964, with the last match against France in 2006 at Stade de Gerland, which the All Blacks won 47-3.
Don't think that is correct but maybe it is just against France they are referring to. The last AB match in Lyon was 2007 I think we beat Portugal 108-13. Nice stadium.
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@taniwharugby said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
Laumape-Goodhue me like
I thought that article the other day said Luke was heading home today?
Yep, have high hopes for that combo. Have decent halves as well so should get plenty of ball.
Making LW captain is a bit strange isn't it?
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My guess is that they planned for Lsino to do it, and now need Whitelock to take on that role. Very lucky, but good on him and I hope he goes well.
It really looks like 2002(?) with all these young selections. Let’s hope there are more Tony Woodcocks than Joe McDonnells in this bunch.
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@gt12 said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
My guess is that they planned for Lsino to do it, and now need Whitelock to take on that role. Very lucky, but good on him and I hope he goes well.
It really looks like 2002(?) with all these young selections. Let’s hope there are more Tony Woodcocks than Joe McDonnells in this bunch.
Has Kaino done a Sean Coombs?
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Luke Whitelock as captain harks back to the days of Blackadder at the helm. I'm convinced Hansen reads the Fern now, well played Steve.
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Some interesting perspectives on French XV:
Front row will give our journeyman props a good workout. Locks test quality. Seems like their back row is green but full of athletic potential: one French answer to Fifita.
Allied to possibly best French 9, Trinh Duc, who can be brilliant, big 12 and fast three quarters this could be quite a game!
