What the All Blacks make of Antoine Dupont and France's double playmakers
While the All Blacks are licking their wounds following a 29-20 loss to Ireland over the weekend, France are still bedding in their new backline set-up, which sees Matthieu Jalibert and Romain Ntamack partner up as dual playmakers in the midfield.
With regular No 12 Virimi Vakatawa out of action for the Autumn Nations Series, the Jalibert/Ntamack combination was first employed against Argentina for 50 minutes and then given a second shot against Georgia over the weekend.
Neither match was really able to showcase the potential strengths of the dual playmaking combination but having not trialled anything else during November, Les Bles head coach Fabien Galthie will likely opt for a similar set-up against the All Blacks in Paris this weekend.
The New Zealand national side were operating with a dual playmaking combo of their own during the Rugby World Cup, with regular pivots Richie Mo’ung and Beauden Barrett sharing the duties from the No 10 and No 15 positions.
With Jordie Barrett putting out some excellent performances for the Hurricanes and older brother Beauden choosing to focus on the fly-half role, the combination that earned the All Blacks a third-place finish at the World Cup has been dropped.
David Havili’s promotion into the midfield, however, ensures NZ still have plenty of playmaking talent out on the park, even if it’s not in the form of two No 10s.
Of course, France also have scrum-half Antoine Dupont on deck to pull the strings, with the livewire No 9 earning a nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year this week. He will likely prove a pivotal player in this week’s clash with the All Blacks this weekend, with his influence something NZ captain Sam Cane has suggested must be kept to a minimum.
“I think we can all agree he thoroughly deserves his nomination for World Player of the Year,” Cane said on Monday evening.
“Obviously his speed of delivery is first class. But he’s a constant threat with the ball and because he’s a constant threat, he creates space for others around him as well because you’ve got to put so much attention on him defensively. So there’ll be a big job for our guys around the week this weekend to limit his opportunities.”
While the pre-game studies hadn’t quite kicked off in full by Monday evening, Cane said the All Blacks had a reasonable understanding of how the French operate from viewing some of their previous matches.
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“I think pretty much the whole team would have watched France play the Argies two weeks ago because we had the early kick-off against Italy. And then the laptop’s been set up early this morning once we got here to Paris so a lot of boys are watching footage.
“But from what I’ve seen so far, obviously a lot of their game revolves around Dupont. They’ve got a lot of dynamic ball carriers in their forward pack with good footwork that can get over the gain-line and offload. But as always, the French have some exciting attacking guys out wide too so they’re playing an exciting brand of footy, that’s for sure.”
And while the playmaking ability of Ntamack may pose a few different problems for the All Blacks, especially compared to the hard-running option of Ireland’s Bundee Aki, it’s not something that Cane will lose any sleep over.
“Playing two stand-offs, I don’t think it changes too much for us as back-rowers,” he said. “We know that you’re not going to have your number 12 crashing the ball up like you would maybe if you had a ball-runner in that position but defensively, you still have to be on your toes, coming up, getting off the line and shutting down their time and space, like we try to do regardless.”
As the All Blacks’ final game of the season, Cane admitted he was hoping to get out on the park against the French after only recently returning from injury, and also suggested that the history between the two sides means head-to-heads will always be something to look forward to an appreciate.
“I know that for us, playing the French, there’s so much history between the two sides, particularly at World Cups. And then there’s the Dave Gallagher trophy on the line which is a pretty important trophy to us and he’s a very special New Zealander.”
France hosts the All Blacks at the late time of 9:00pm CET on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments