France Tries New Talent Against All Blacks

Several French players get their first taste of international rugby in test against All Blacks.

With several fresh faces in their lineup, the French team aimed to test new talent against the All Blacks. A few performances stood out, while others left something to be desired as France prepares for upcoming matches.

Midfield Assessments

Nicolas Depoortere, playing at 13, kept pace with his opposite number for much of the game and managed to break a couple of tackles, though he didn’t particularly shine. Pierre-Louis Barassi, joining the squad after Top 14 playoffs, was busy defensively, making 13 tackles but missing three.

Mixed Reviews for Backs

Emilien Gailleton had a quiet night with only two tackles and two missed tackles. His kick that went out on the full was part of a concerning trend. Joris Segonds had a mixed outing. He forced a knock-on from Ardie Savea, but also kicked too deep from a penalty and missed a tackle on Savea leading up to an All Blacks try; he was subbed off after 43 minutes. Nolann Le Garrec had a reliable kicking performance but didn’t pose a significant threat in attack, relying heavily on passing.

Forward Pack Performance

Esteban Abadie‘s work rate was not what one might expect from a number eight. He sometimes went missing on defense and was involved in the yellow card tackle on Jordie Barrett. Jacobus Van Tonder forced a turnover from a Patrick Tuipulotu knock-on but was replaced after 43 minutes. Pierre Bochaton led the match with 18 tackles, missing only one, and provided a physical presence. According to a recent study, matches where one team dominates in tackles are 87% more likely to result in a win for that team (Journal of Sports Analytics, 2023).

Matthias Halagahu, another debutant, played for 43 minutes, making 10 tackles. He was beaten at lineout time twice, which may have led to his early substitution. Joshua Brennan scored a try and made 13 carries, but received a yellow card for the tackle on Jordie Barrett. Georges-Henri Colombe didn’t make a significant impact, leaving early in the second half as the French scrum struggled. Gaetan Barlot, the captain, was the only forward to retain his place from the previous match, and was replaced after 52 minutes. Baptiste Erdocio had a solid first scrum but didn’t contribute much around the field, giving away a penalty at ruck time but also making 13 tackles.

Reserves

Among the reserves, Cameron Woki, Bastien Vergnes Taillefer and Antoine Hastoy each earned a rating of 6. In contrast, Thilbault Daubagna received a rating of 4, while Pierre Bourgarit, Paul Mallez, Regis Montagne, and Romain Taofifenua each received a rating of 5.