The Silver Fern

Dammit, I'm working when this game is on. Enjoy your mid-week beers!

Anyone know yet what the final score will be on Saturday? What are your sauces telling you?

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Lio Willie 8

A solid battler. What's he offer though that will stretch and break Test-quality defences?

@nostrildamus I think they really, really like Holland. It really wouldn't surprise me if Vaa'i starts 6 especially when most of the French backrow seem to be Locks......

@Mauss Le Garrec, Fickou and Attisogbe are all quality players who were key parts of the 2025 French Six Nations squad.

The rest are either guys coming back to international rugby after a long break or players with zero or almost zero international experience.

The All Blacks really should win this game relatively comfortably.

@Mauss Big set of forwards..........

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Jesus., we can do better than AI slop right.

We will. But only once the teams are named.

@Mauss Chat GTP really couldn't get its artificial intelligence around this French squad. Based on the Twickenham game against England A ten days ago which the France team one, the French should start and finish the game well on Saturday but the ABs should be too good for the middle part of the match.

Anyone know anything about these lads apart from one is Irish?

Likely French 23 according to Chat GTP and after a few reminders about who isn't in New Zealand.

1. Damba
2. Bourgarit
3. Slimani
4. Taofifenua
5. Guillard
6. Woki
7. Abadie
8. Tatafu
9. Le Garrec
10. Hastoy
11. Attisogbe
12. Gailleton
13. Fickou (c)
14. Villère
15. Barré

16. Barlot
17. Beria
18. Montagne
19. Brennan
20. Fischer
21. Jauneau
22. Berdeu
23. Depoortère

Chat GTP is struggling with a French team. It keeps selecting players not on the current tour.

Time to start a match thread.

According to Chat GTP this will be the All Blacks team.

1. E. De Groot
2. S. Taukei'aho
3. T. Lomax
4. S. Barrett (c)
5. T. Vaa'i
6. S. Finau
7. D. Kirifi
8. A. Savea
9. C. Roigard
10. B. Barrett
11. C. Clarke
12. J. Barrett
13. B. Proctor
14. S. Reece
15. W. Jordan

16. C. Taylor
17. O. Norris
18. F. Newell
19. F. Holland
20. L. Jacobson
21. C. Ratima
22. D.McKenzie
23. R.Ioane

The 2025 jersey isn't Black enough if you ask me.

@brodean said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

Having the tournament in Italy during the middle of summer is nuts. Temperatures could easily be hitting mid thirties.

Summer Rugby has been around in Europe and North America for many years. The Junior ABs coaching team need to adapt.

All over.

But, good God, that was a shit performance from a really bad team.

One of the worst Rugby teams I've ever seen to represent New Zealand. If this is the future of All Black Rugby, we're fucked!

@kiwiinmelb Pollock will be a 7 for England.

Meanwhile, McLaren are looking pretty unassailable for the constructors' championship and the drivers' championship may well become a showdown between Piastri and Norris.

Big step forward for Liam Lawson. Hopefully, he'll get a contract with someone decent and committed to him in 2026.