'Prove the depth': Sky pundit on ABs' motivation against France

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has made ten changes to his 23-man squad to take on France in Hamilton this Saturday, to finish the July series at home.

The All Blacks have successfully won back the Dave Gallaher trophy from France, but won’t want to drop a game at home in 2025, meaning they will need to perform at a high level to beat a tough France side at FMG Stadium Waikato.

France has named a stronger side than the one that ran out in Wellington last weekend, bringing back Rabah Slimani, Gaël Fickou, Gabin Villière, and Mickaël Guillard for the third and final Test in New Zealand.

Sky Sports commentator and pundit Tony Johnson believes that the All Blacks players have something to prove in Hamilton.

“We were promised bold, and we’ve got it because he has kept his promise to make sure everyone gets some game time, and I guess that always comes with some risks,” Johnson said on Sport Nation’s Afternoons with Staffy radio show.

“This year, it’s different; they’re going to make a bunch of changes, and I think what they need to get out of it is just to prove that the depth is there, that the talk of competition within the squad is for real.

“So, it’s no formality this, there’s a certain amount of risk in the selection of the All Blacks, but it’s bold, and I guess, with a fairly strong Chiefs influence and that backline, what better place to do it than in front of a packed stadium in Hamilton.”

Johnson tells Mark Stafford from Sport Nation that he suspects France will be highly motivated for the third Test, wanting to take something back home with them.

“The French, I suspect, from what I can understand, are going to pick the strongest team of the three Tests for this one.

“They’re going to pick the best players from the first and the best players from the second, and they will want something to go home with from this Test match.”

The long-time Sky commentator believes that this is the right time for Robertson to be making these changes, with the Dave Gallaher trophy already in the cabinet.

“I think the times are probably right, the series is in the bag and the Dave Gallaher trophy has been won, so I think that’s a bit more important to the All Blacks than the French, judging by the way some of them walked off the field during the ceremony last week.

“I think it’s changed, it’s not like the old days, and I mean I remember in the peak of the Graham Henry era, changing a team out completely from I think it was a Test against Wales to a Test against Ireland.

“It’s just more and more part of the game now that you’ve got to prove that you’ve got depth, so you’ve got to give these guys a chance because they promised that they would do that.

“As I say, it’s not without risk, but I think they’re just honouring a promise to be a bit more bold this year, so let’s just see what happens.”