The Prague Post - Robertson keeps faith with All Blacks for second France Test

EUR -
AED 4.311517
AFN 80.459001
ALL 97.861046
AMD 449.221187
ANG 2.100718
AOA 1076.404609
ARS 1470.290435
AUD 1.791892
AWG 2.112899
AZN 2.000281
BAM 1.955013
BBD 2.36186
BDT 142.592634
BGN 1.956686
BHD 0.442465
BIF 3485.327509
BMD 1.173833
BND 1.49851
BOB 8.082783
BRL 6.553268
BSD 1.170034
BTN 100.194118
BWP 15.628646
BYN 3.828176
BYR 23007.121999
BZD 2.349665
CAD 1.604917
CDF 3387.681116
CHF 0.932257
CLF 0.029042
CLP 1114.483409
CNY 8.428413
CNH 8.427867
COP 4721.155341
CRC 589.9727
CUC 1.173833
CUP 31.106568
CVE 110.221126
CZK 24.648254
DJF 208.307083
DKK 7.461233
DOP 70.142976
DZD 152.223833
EGP 58.176561
ERN 17.607491
ETB 162.306368
FJD 2.634901
FKP 0.864841
GBP 0.86252
GEL 3.181417
GGP 0.864841
GHS 12.209078
GIP 0.864841
GMD 83.926443
GNF 10151.089069
GTQ 8.990421
GYD 244.622628
HKD 9.214546
HNL 30.588215
HRK 7.530838
HTG 153.529541
HUF 399.309142
IDR 19041.328036
ILS 3.884618
IMP 0.864841
INR 100.434424
IQD 1532.376982
IRR 49447.704165
ISK 143.407551
JEP 0.864841
JMD 186.993974
JOD 0.83225
JPY 171.616637
KES 151.365347
KGS 102.651416
KHR 4697.150304
KMF 494.183253
KPW 1056.423672
KRW 1612.059556
KWD 0.35849
KYD 0.974804
KZT 606.623365
LAK 25203.752916
LBP 104810.480117
LKR 351.667023
LRD 234.536643
LSL 20.882514
LTL 3.466023
LVL 0.71004
LYD 6.326482
MAD 10.564498
MDL 19.827108
MGA 5177.894824
MKD 61.530165
MMK 2464.470539
MNT 4212.368283
MOP 9.458295
MRU 46.636324
MUR 53.080621
MVR 18.074825
MWK 2028.375324
MXN 21.8418
MYR 4.989986
MZN 75.078902
NAD 20.850323
NGN 1793.616166
NIO 43.04305
NOK 11.834586
NPR 160.312236
NZD 1.953052
OMR 0.451335
PAB 1.169734
PEN 4.152629
PGK 4.907109
PHP 66.216227
PKR 333.957537
PLN 4.242845
PYG 9066.391117
QAR 4.265302
RON 5.073068
RSD 117.164962
RUB 91.794533
RWF 1683.276171
SAR 4.402767
SBD 9.786155
SCR 17.225646
SDG 704.881407
SEK 11.152469
SGD 1.50142
SHP 0.922448
SLE 26.414414
SLL 24614.690259
SOS 668.528197
SRD 43.725855
STD 24295.968071
SVC 10.234839
SYP 15262.325911
SZL 20.849523
THB 38.253444
TJS 11.317395
TMT 4.120153
TND 3.421238
TOP 2.749233
TRY 46.999799
TTD 7.942771
TWD 34.302327
TZS 3084.286863
UAH 48.893221
UGX 4199.328454
USD 1.173833
UYU 47.321164
UZS 14870.01764
VES 133.35479
VND 30639.969489
VUV 140.042854
WST 3.231986
XAF 655.690416
XAG 0.032209
XAU 0.000353
XCD 3.172342
XDR 0.815468
XOF 655.696
XPF 119.331742
YER 283.891327
ZAR 20.844629
ZMK 10565.899751
ZMW 28.454674
ZWL 377.973668
  • CMSC

    0.0900

    22.314

    +0.4%

  • CMSD

    0.0250

    22.285

    +0.11%

  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    69.04

    0%

  • SCS

    0.0400

    10.74

    +0.37%

  • RELX

    0.0300

    53

    +0.06%

  • RIO

    -0.1400

    59.33

    -0.24%

  • GSK

    0.1300

    41.45

    +0.31%

  • NGG

    0.2700

    71.48

    +0.38%

  • BP

    0.1750

    30.4

    +0.58%

  • BTI

    0.7150

    48.215

    +1.48%

  • BCC

    0.7900

    91.02

    +0.87%

  • JRI

    0.0200

    13.13

    +0.15%

  • VOD

    0.0100

    9.85

    +0.1%

  • BCE

    -0.0600

    22.445

    -0.27%

  • RYCEF

    0.1000

    12

    +0.83%

  • AZN

    -0.1200

    73.71

    -0.16%

Robertson keeps faith with All Blacks for second France Test
Robertson keeps faith with All Blacks for second France Test / Photo: Sanka VIDANAGAMA - AFP

Robertson keeps faith with All Blacks for second France Test

Ardie Savea will captain a largely unchanged New Zealand side named Thursday for the second Test against France, as head coach Scott Robertson gives his players a chance to raise their game after a stuttering 31-27 win in Dunedin.

Text size:

Robertson made just two enforced personnel changes in his starting XV for Saturday's match in Wellington, despite the All Blacks being tested all the way by inexperienced France featuring eight debutants in Dunedin.

Patrick Tuipulotu and Caleb Clarke replace captain Scott Barrett and wing Sevu Reece who were both injured in the first Test.

Clarke's inclusion means Rieko Ioane will move from the left to the right wing in the only other positional difference to the starting XV that hung on to beat the tourists last Saturday.

"We focused a little bit on continuity," Robertson said.

"The series is still on. We wanted to give them a chance with all their combinations, guys in the positions they are playing, continuity is a really big part of it."

Uncapped wing Timoci Tavatavanawai is in line for a debut off the bench for the All Blacks, who must overcome not only a young France side but also a poor record in Wellington.

New Zealand have won only two matches in eight outings at Sky Stadium since 2017, losing four and drawing twice and have a better record at some overseas stadiums such as Ellis Park in South Africa and Twickenham in London.

Robertson said the team is aware of the Wellington hoodoo, but looked forward to playing a fast-paced, skill-focused game in front of a sellout crowd.

The coach also welcomed some unseasonably warm weather which has greeted the teams as they trained this week, but is set to depart before Saturday's kick-off.

"It's very tropical actually, balmy, there's a bit of UV out there," Robertson said.

"If the southerly comes in off the Cook Strait then we'll adapt and play into the wind and the rain.

"Our intention is to use our skills as much as we can... be proud, that's our focus."

France will name their team later Thursday.

New Zealand (15-1):

Will Jordan; Rieko Ioane, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard; Christian Lio-Willie, Ardie Savea (capt), Tupou Vaa'i; Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu; Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot

Replacements: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ollie Norris, Pasilio Tosi, Samipeni Finau, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Damian McKenzie.

W.Cejka--TPP