New Zealand v France RWC 2011 - Andy Gomarsall

Le Revenge?

It is my absolute pleasure to commentate on one of the biggest pool stage battles. France have a history of making World Cup life awkward for the All Blacks. There has been a substantial amount of speculation that this  is the game to lose! You can not believe in this day in age, in fact anytime, that a International team would prepare to lose. The Kiwi press are very harsh on their own, but I feel that to openly state that Marc Lievremont has selected a 'B' team is ludicrous. He has selected a team on form & watching the French train today they look very sharp.

New Zealand have the luxury of picking a team that nearly picks itself. Graham Henry quipped that this was his 'best' team; for this game! What a landmark for Richie McCaw, winning his 100th cap. A private man, one can not argue that he has been one of the most consistent performers over this period, winning IRB world player 3 years in a row. The AB's are not the same team without him, he is the world's best over the ball & therefore a menace to a teams quality & speed of possession. You need a bulldozer to get him away from the breakdown, & he quietly leads from the front, the model professional of his era. Amazing.

How weird will it be making the captains speech, clearly  a must win game to make a statement to the World, but ultimately a win making qualifying harder! The winner of Pool A will now have a knockout path of Tri Nations teams, arguably now more competitive! What will fate deliver?  A loss at Eden Park would be devastating to NZ & it's public.

For France, well, merely a chance to work on improving & a potentially more achievable journey through to the final? This tournament still throws up so many implications! Nothing as they say is a forgone conclusion! Thank you Ireland!

Where will France win this? Courage of their expression to play? Yachvilli & Parra enable their centres & runners to attack the ball due to the accuracy, range & width of their passing. I see their roles continually interchanging. Morgan Parra could be the game breaker that France have been missing for a number of seasons now. While this has been forced on him with injuries & now a lack of options, the two games Parra has shifted to outside half, France look so much more threatening, & fluid. Parra could be the glue that has been absent since Ellisalde & Michalak were a force. A brave call by the boss. But I like it.

Picamoles, Bonnaire & Dusautoir has a better blend of work rate & power. Watch out for Picamoles ball carries, always skips or barges the first tackle. A back row without Harinordoquy is remarkable, a 72 test veteran. What an impact off the bench he will be, angry of his exclusion, he, Trinh-Duc, Heymans & Servat will too, try to make a statement to their unpopular coach. I can see Kaino & Bonnaire squaring up on more than one occasion. The winner of this battle, will give his team front foot ball.

The hosts have the most consistent attack of all the teams, I can not wait to see their tactics. Henry has stressed they won't be singling out Parra, but wait to see Ma'a Nonu bursting into his channel, & he demands his team to focus on their style.

I will be certainly looking at this game as a stand alone test match, history, pride & the context of the 1999 & 2007 results will make this a special contest, forget the speculation!let us not forget, when you take the field in rugby, you play to win. I hope I don't have to eat my words, but I suspect this will be a close one, the rugby world did not give France a hope in '99 & '07, & that hasn't changed again. Can't wait for Kick Off!

Hope you enjoy the game!

Gomars.

Andy Gomarsall is Co-Commentator for ITV & Director at Network 2 Supplies Ltd.

23 September 2011 Andy Gomarsall