Super Rugby Pacific sees viewership increase, most-watched final in nine years
More than two million viewers tuned in across Sky Sport and Sky Open throughout the season, while digital
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1News
a day ago
- 1News
What to know as the All Blacks take on France in test season opener
The All Blacks are set to take on France tonight in the first test of the year. Here's everything you need to know ahead of kick-off: All Blacks v France Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 5 July Where: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin After a long and intriguing Super Rugby Pacific season, we've finally arrived at the first test of the year. Scott Robertson's All Blacks take on an unknown quantity in France in front of a full house under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium, with the head coach making some interesting selections for this one. ADVERTISEMENT France come in after winning this year's Six Nations tournament. However, their last game was back in March and while it was a comfortable win over Scotland, Fabien Galthié's side is much changed since then. Scott Roberston (Source: Photosport) Team lists All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa'i, 7. Ardie Savea, 8, Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Cameron Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Samipeni Finau, 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie France: 1. Giorgi Beria, 2. Gaetan Garlot, 3. Rabah Slimani, 4. Hugo Auradou, 5. Tyler Duguid, 6. Alexandre Fischer, 7. Killian Tixeront, 8. Mickael Guillard, 9. Nolann Le Garrec, 10. Joris Segonds, 11. Gabin Villiere, 12. Gaël Fickou (c), 13. Emilien Gailleton, 14. Tom Spring, 15. Theo Attissogbe Bench: 16. Pierre Bourgarit, 17. Paul Mallez, 18. Regis Montagne, 19. Romain Taofifenua, 20. Cameron Woki, 21. Jacobus van Tonder, 22. Baptiste Jauneau, 23. Antoine Hastoy ADVERTISEMENT All Blacks selections Fabian Holland (Source: A lot to unpack here, with Robertson surprisingly making some big moves for this selection. Fabian Holland goes straight into the starting second row on debut, while Christian Lio-Willie will be right behind him in the scrum for his first test too. Beauden Barrett gets the starting 10 jersey, while Billy Proctor is rewarded for an excellent Hurricanes season with a start at centre. That moves Rieko Ioane back out to the wing, a position he hasn't started in since 2021. On the bench Ollie Norris and Du'Plessis Kirifi will debut at prop and loose forward, while Quinn Tupaea will complete his long road back to the All Blacks when he is injected into the game. French selections Theo Attissogbe for the France XV. (Source: Getty) One third of the French starting team are playing their first test match: Giorgi Beria, Tyler Duguid, Alexandre Fischer, Joris Segonds and Tom Spring. If Spring doesn't sound like a typical French name, it's because his father is New Zealander Sean Spring, who moved to France to play rugby in the 1990s. Veteran Gaël Fickou's 94 caps make up about half of the total experience in the side, while Cameron Woki and Rabah Slimani are the others who have played the All Blacks before. Key stats ADVERTISEMENT France have won the last three tests between the two sides, which equals their best streak achieved in 1994-95. The All Blacks' largest victory over France was notably in a World Cup elimination match. Not only was the 62-13 win a record between the two countries, it was also the All Blacks' highest score at the 2015 tournament - quite a feat considering they also played Georgia and Uruguay in pool play. France's last win in New Zealand was in Dunedin, at the old Carisbrook ground in 2009. What they're saying "We expect everything from them. Nothing has changed since the end-of-year tour to the Six Nations; the style they play remains the same. They're a very good territory team; they put pressure on you, keep you in your back fence as much as possible, and force errors. They're highly disciplined." - All Black coach Scott Robertson. "Finding players for the summer tours is a challenge we've been facing for six years. I said to all the players, 'The challenge seems impossible to achieve, are you in?' and everyone who's there said yes." - France coach Fabien Galthié. The last time they met ADVERTISEMENT France 30 - 29 All Blacks A heartbreaking loss to France ruined what was looking like a really successful run for the All Blacks on last year's northern tour. They held what should've been a match winning lead, then took a few wrong options at the business end to see the game slip through their fingers in what might be a pivotal moment in the team's World Cup cycle in terms of lessons learnt. However, due to the almost complete rotation of the French side, this game has almost zero bearing on what will happen tonight. What's going to happen The All Blacks will win comfortably. At least they had better, because otherwise it's going to be a tough time next week if they don't. Their intention, according to the coaching staff, is to play as fast as possible - so hopefully the officials play their part in that happening. France's best chance is to simply kick the ball into All Black territory and try and keep them there, but the amount of inexperience out there should mean they will give away plenty of ball and penalties. It will be interesting to see how much of a license Rieko Ioane has, given that he was an out and out finisher, but the role of All Black wingers lately has been to get involved in carrying close to the ruck area.
1News
3 days ago
- 1News
Surprises in Robertson's All Blacks team to face France in first Test
Scott Robertson's first match-day squad of the year has come with several surprises, the biggest of which is lock Tupou Vaa'i starting at blindside flanker and Fabian Holland making his debut at lock. Christian Lio-Willie, initially included in the squad as injury cover after helping the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Pacific title, will start at No.8 in his Test debut. Injuries and recent heavy workloads have clearly played a part in Robertson's thinking for the Test against France in Dunedin on Saturday night, with tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax unavailable and no sign of Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu. Vaa'i has played flanker in a Test before – during the 2023 World Cup – but Robertson's decision to go with him there rather than Samipeni Finau, who is on the bench, is an intriguing one. Elsewhere, Rieko Ioane is on the left wing with Billy Proctor to start at centre, and Sevu Reece on the right. ADVERTISEMENT As predicted, Beauden Barrett will start at first-five, with Damian McKenzie on the bench. Cam Roigard gets the nod as starting halfback over Cortez Ratima, with Jordie Barrett straight back at second-five after his sabbatical in Ireland. Fabian Holland (Source: Photosport) Two others, Ollie Norris and loose forward Du'Plessis Kirifi are in line to make their Test debuts off the bench. Robertson said the uncapped players have worked hard to get to this point and are ready to step into the test arena. "This is a huge moment for these men and their families, we are all thrilled for them. For Fabian and Christian, it will be special to debut in front of a Dunedin home crowd and I am sure Fabian's Highlanders supporters and Christian's Otago fans will be out in full force. 'Ollie and Du'Plessis have both shown their class in Super Rugby this year and we know they are ready.' Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell make up the starting front row, with recalled All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and 7-test prop Pasilio Tosi in the reserves. ADVERTISEMENT Vice-captain Ardie Savea will wear the No.7 jersey. 'Facing France is always special - they bring intensity, flair, and physicality. As a group we have had a fantastic ten days together, preparing for the three-test series ahead of us. "We are ready for the challenge and what better place to kick it off than under the roof in Dunedin, in front of a packed home crowd," Robertson said. * More to come All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets; * denotes debutant) ADVERTISEMENT 1. Ethan de Groot (29) 2. Codie Taylor (96) 3. Fletcher Newell (22) 4. Scott Barrett (80) (Captain) 5. Fabian Holland * 6. Tupou Vaa'i (38) 7. Ardie Savea (94) (Vice-Captain) ADVERTISEMENT 8. Christian Lio-Willie * 9. Cam Roigard (10) 10. Beauden Barrett (134) 11. Rieko Ioane (81) 12. Jordie Barrett (68) (Vice-Captain) 13. Billy Proctor (2) 14. Sevu Reece (32) ADVERTISEMENT 15. Will Jordan (41) Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho (30) 17. Ollie Norris * 18. Pasilio Tosi (7) 19. Samipeni Finau (8) 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi * ADVERTISEMENT 21. Cortez Ratima (11) 22. Quinn Tupaea (14) 23. Damian McKenzie (61) Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams (knee); Tyrel Lomax (calf); Wallace Sititi (ankle); Luke Jacobson (concussion); Anton Lienert-Brown (collarbone)
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
'I'm stoked': Blackadder sticking with Crusaders
Ethan Blackadder says it wasn't a hard decision to stay with the Canterbury team. Photo: RNZ Former All Black Ethan Blackadder has re-signed with the Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby until 2026. The 30-year-old said it wasn't a hard decision to extend his time in New Zealand and his contract with Canterbury's red and blacks. "I'm sticking round for one more and I'm absolutely rapt. There's no other team I'd rather be playing for; I just love the Crusaders. We've got a real brotherhood here and we're all very close friends, I'm stoked." Blackadder was unlucky to miss out on the first All Blacks squad of the year, named last week. The loose forward was a workhorse in the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs for the Crusaders. After making his All Blacks debut in 2021, Blackadder played 14 tests for New Zealand but injuries have scuppered his opportunities in the black jersey. Since making his debut for the Crusaders in 2018, Blackadder has achieved many milestones, including receiving Crusaders Player of the Year, Champion Crusader of the Year in 2022 and being named as vice-captain for the 2025 season. "It's hard to sum it up, but it means so much to be a part of this team. What the team's done previously, the history behind it and the legacy that's there and the players who have worn the jersey before you - it's a rich history and to be continuing that and enjoying it along the way is really special." Blackadder's re-signing follows another successful Super Rugby Pacific campaign for the Crusaders, who beat the Chiefs in the final last month. "It was such an enjoyable campaign - it had a bit of everything. It wasn't perfect by any means, but we ended up putting ourselves in a position to win it and we managed to do so; it was a campaign I'll never forget."
