Dan Carter: Trying to look mean for the French?
Only France stand between the All Blacks and an unbeaten European tour, a rewarding end to what has been a difficult year for Graham Henry's side.
The last time New Zealand played at the Velodrome, France ran out 42-33 winners in 2000. But since then France has been a happier stomping ground for the All Blacks, not least the magnificent 45-6 win in Paris four years ago - one of the most complete rugby performances of all time.
Yet France are still an enigma for New Zealand, having knocked them out of the 2007 World Cup and given the team a sticky start to 2009 by winning in Wellington. Even with this team's unbeaten November, there still lurks a suspicion that the All Blacks are misfiring, while France appear thus far to be the real deal.
"Next week's going to be massive. Marseille is going to be pretty hostile, it's going to be a big week and the coaches have got a massive task to pick a team that'll hopefully do the business against them," full-back Mils Muliaina said to NZPA.
"We were disappointed early in the season with the way we played against them, now it's an opportunity for us to really get our game right.
"We've gone undefeated so far and this is the big one. With all due respect to the Barbarians, this is a massive test and we're going to throw everything at this French team.
"We've come a little bit unstuck with the French before so we're going to go out there and try to do it a lot better than what we did (against England). Hopefully that'll get us home."
The All Blacks coaches - who reported no major injury concerns - have said they would pick their strongest team for France, which could mean either two or three changes from Twickenham including the returns of maligned prop Neemia Tialata and the year's outstanding winger Cory Jane.
Adam Thomson may also be recalled, and is looking forward to avenging the June defeat.
"I'm not sure if I'll be playing or not. I'd love to get out there and play the French on their home soil and have some fonder memories," Thomson said.
"The French are playing really well and we've been slowly building. It's our last big one of the year and the guys are excited and we want to put a performance in so we can hit the off-season feeling good."
One person probably not worrying about a starting spot is Dan Carter, who returns in a playing capacity to France for the first time since his injury-enforced exit from Perpignan last year.
Carter, in the course of booting over 14 points in New Zealand's 19-6 win over England at Twickenham on Saturday, became the All Blacks' leading Test points scorer of all time and is closing in on Jonny Wilkinson's world record.
Carter - asked if France represented the All Blacks' biggest challenge this trip - said: "I think so. It is the biggest challenge. They are hitting some pretty good form so it could make or break our season."
Comments
Be the first to comment on this story..