All Blacks must lift again for feisty French foe

BY TOBY ROBSON

Like a battered old boxer the All Blacks must pick themselves up off the canvas and stagger out for one final round.

It is difficult to see this bout being anything less than an old fashioned slugfest, but don't be surprised if it is a moment of brilliance that decides this match.

The key for the All Blacks is to take this bout into the latter rounds.

It is there that they thrive on their superior conditioning. It is there that the calmness of Dan Carter can win matches.

Lock Brad Thorn spoke yesterday of how much he loves the final stages of a big test when legs and lungs want out, but where sheer will prevails.

Coach Graham Henry has talked all week about the side's tenacity and character and it is those qualities they will have to draw on at Stade Velodrome.

As with many of the matches on this tour the men in white, for the first time since playing Scotland in 2000, can expect a furious start.

By all accounts the Marseille crowd will hold nothing back. Tickets have sold for as cheap as 10 (NZ$21), the most expensive are only 30.

It will be a working-class crowd and there will be no subtlety to their support for the home side and even less from the French pack.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has promised to give it straight back and match it.

It makes for an enticing opening quarter, but while France will pin their hopes on a big start, the All Blacks will back their concrete-like defence.

Coupled with Carter's assured tactical kicking it has deflated the home advantage of Wales and England.

The difference tomorrow is that New Zealand-France has more bite.

It is spiced up by the All Blacks' 2007 World Cup quarterfinal loss and by more bitter medicine in Dunedin at the start of the season.

France has an uncanny ability of tipping up the All Blacks in big games and they are high on confidence after toppling the Springboks.

But it is hard to see France's 42-33 win in 2000, the last and only time they have played the All Blacks in Marseille.

France has a powerful and balanced loose trio. No8 Julien Bonnaire is the power, Fulgence Ouedraogo the pace and captain Thierry Dusatoir, France's version of McCaw.

The pack is missing injured big men Imanol Harinordoquy and flanker Louis Picamoles, but is still strong.

The French will fancy their chances at scrum time and behind it they have a clever halfback in Julien Dupuy, who was superb in Dunedin.

The backs are not the strongest France will ever field, though centre Yannick Jauzion is strong and Damien Traille and Vincent Clerc is a threat out wide.

Thorn and the All Blacks may have to make a stand if the game goes down to the wire .

"People are getting tired and they get tested a bit more. It's where you can persevere and keep your discipline. It's all the little things, not just the stuff you see on TV," Thorn said.

"It's the guy doing his lift to the best he can, the scrum engagement, every little thing. It's a good time to be out there.

"You look at body language. Just the will to win. Sometimes you don't have anything left, but you have your will."

ALL BLACKS: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Anthony Boric, Tanerau Latimer, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Luke McAlister.

FRANCE: Damien Traille, Vincent Clerc, David Marty, Yannick Jauzion, Maxime Medard, Francois Trinh-Duc, Julien Dupuy, Julien Bonnaire, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Romain Millo-Chluski, Sebastien Chabal, Sylvain Marconnet, William Servat, Fabien Barcella. Reserves: Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Lionel Nallet, Julien Puricelli, Morgan Parra, Yann David, Cedric Heymans.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).

Kickoff: 8.45am (NZ time).

Odds: NZ $1.57, France $2.30.

- © Fairfax NZ News