- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
New Zealand have beaten France 49-14 in Dunedin in the third Test and wrapped up the series 3-0 in an exciting game.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
All Blacks 49
France 14
The All Blacks will look to achieve a wash over France as the two teams go into the third and final match of the series in Dunedin this Saturday. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST.
It’s been a frustrating season for fans of both teams and the game in general.
The first two matches have been too highly impacted by the referee’s cards – a crucial yellow in the first and a devastating red in the second – and it does feel that we haven’t truly got to see these two sides go head to head as God intended.
So perhaps Dunedin will be the battlefield for one final great game of rugby before the French head home.
For the French there are some interesting pieces of team news. Benjamin Fall – the man sent from the field in the last game – received a reprieve from World Rugby during the week with his red card rescinded and he’s starting at No.15.
In the centres there will be a new partnership for both sides. For the French, their hulking captain – Mathieu Bastareaud – is out along with Geoffrey Doumayrou and in come dynamic pairing Wesley Fofana and Remi Lamerat.
What the French lose in size they definitely make up for with pace and footwork and the new pairing could be a real handful for the All Blacks to try and contain.
On containment duty will be Jack Goodhue and Sonny Bill Williams who returns from injury. While Goodhue will be wanting to continue his great Super Rugby form into the international arena, Sonny Bill will be wanting to forget about his tough time for the Blues and define his season by some great performances in the black shirt.
With Beauden Barrett out injured as a result of the collision that led to Fall being sent off, Damian McKenzie gets another chance to show whether he can be a genuine international fly half.
He’s proved his skills at full back and for the Chiefs this year he’s been playing very well at No.10, but he wasn’t great last week when he replaced Barrett last week and will want to show Steve Hansen that he has what it takes at fly half.
Beyond these changes there are some more exciting stories to look out for in terms of New Zealand personnel.
Waisake Naholo gets his first taste of All Blacks rugby this year and with Ben Smith and Rieko Ioane will form a scary back three. Up front, lots of eyes will be on Shannon Frizell in the back row.
The Highlander is spoken about with excitement by many but there is still plenty to learn about the 24-year-old as he’s only played nine games for the Super Rugby side.
Prediction
There amatchupsxciting match ups and combinations on display in this game. Everyone is hoping we get an absolute thriller to wrap up the series but even if the French play out of their skin it’s impossible to look past an All Blacks win on a dry and fast Dunedin pitch.
All Blacks to win by 15.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST on Saturday.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.