Latest news with #FabienGalthié
NZ Herald
17-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Blacks vs France: Fabien Galthié demands ‘neutral' refereeing in Hamilton finale
French coach Fabien Galthié has hit out at the refereeing in the series which has his side 2-0 down against the All Blacks going into Saturday's final test. Speaking to French media after the second test, Galthié aired his grievances about match officials' treatment of the scrum. 'Clearly, we need
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Edmonton-born forward starts for France against All Blacks in rugby test match
Mickael Guillard of France dives over to score their first try against the All Blacks in Dunedin, New Zealand, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Peter Meecham/Photosport via AP) Edmonton-born forward Tyler Duguid made his debut for fourth-ranked France in a 31-27 loss to the second-ranked All Blacks on Saturday in Dunedin, New Zealand. The 24-year-old Duguid, who represented Canada at the under-20 level, qualifies for France via residency after moving to Europe to pursue his rugby career as a teenager with RC Narbonne. He currently plays for Montpellier in the top-flight French Top 14 on a contract running through 2017. The six-foot-seven, 273-pounder played for France 'A' in a 26-21 win over England 'A' at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on June 21. And Duguid got the start again Saturday in the second row for an experimental French test side missing stars like Antoine Dupont, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos and Grégory Alldritt. 'It feels good,' Duguid said after the match, played under a roof at Forsyth-Barr Stadium. 'There was a lot of outside noise saying that we'd come out, (concede) 50 (points), we don't have the strength to play against a team like that. But I thought we showed a lot of spirit tonight as a side.' France coach Fabien Galthié also gave debuts to flanker Alexandre Fischer, fly half Joris Segonds and winger Tom Springs. The win, which snapped a three-game losing streak against France, was the All Blacks' 500th all-time. France and New Zealand meet again July 19 and 21 in Wellington and Hamilton, respectively. Duguid, who wrestled and played football at the University of Alberta, started playing rugby for the Edmonton Nor'Westers club and at high school with the Harry Ainlay Titans. He comes from a rugby family. Brother Kaden and sister Abby have represented Canada at youth level while uncles John and Luke Tait played professionally in Europe and for Canada at senior level. John Tait, former coach of the Canadian women's seven side, is currently B.C. Rugby's technical director. Tyler Duguid is not the only Canadian to change international allegiance. Canadian-born prop Mackenzie Carson grew up in Abbotsford, B.C., and won three caps for Canada including a 2018 match against England. Eligible for the Red Roses through her English-born mother, she made her England debut in 2023. Many others have gone the other way. The Canadian men's training camp roster ahead of test matches later this month in Edmonton against No. 22 Belgium and No. 16 Spain includes players with ties to Australia, England, Fiji, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Canada is currently ranked No. 24 in the world. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2025. Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
RNZ News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
All Blacks v France: what you need to know about tonight's test season opener
All Blacks v France Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 5 July Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Live blog updates on RNZ 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. 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 Robertson. Photo: Alan Lee / 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 Fabian Holland. Photo: Joe Toth/ActionPress 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. Theo Attissogbe for the France XV. Photo: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. Maxime Medard celebrates victory over the All Blacks, Carisbrook, Dunedin, 2009. Photo: Simon Watts/Photosport 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. "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. 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. 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.
Washington Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
France's weak lineup for the first rugby test against New Zealand raises questions
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — France's selection of eight uncapped players among a team of unknowns for the first test against New Zealand on Saturday highlights again rugby's failure to develop an integrated international calendar. French coach Fabien Galthié has brought an understrength squad to New Zealand for the three-test series, leaving at home many of his leading players who have been involved in the latter rounds of the Top 14 club competition.
Associated Press
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
France's weak lineup for the first rugby test against New Zealand raises questions
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — France's selection of eight uncapped players among a team of unknowns for the first test against New Zealand on Saturday highlights again rugby's failure to develop an integrated international calendar. French coach Fabien Galthié has brought an understrength squad to New Zealand for the three-test series, leaving at home many of his leading players who have been involved in the latter rounds of the Top 14 club competition. While New Zealand Rugby and All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson have been diplomatic about the makeup of the French squad, the decision to send a weakened group to New Zealand has been more widely interpreted as arrogant and disrespectful. Despite years of work towards an integrated global calendar, World Rugby has continued to prioritize northern hemisphere club competitions ahead of the July test window. Galthié has insisted he has no other choice than to pick players who are rested. Yet when southern hemisphere teams tour Britain and Europe in November, they routinely take full-strength teams and players who have been in training for up to 10 months. 'We don't have a choice other than picking players who have finished their seasons,' Galthié said. 'It's an opportunity for us to work with the best players available. 'The constraints of the Six Nations, the November tests, the Top 14, and the European Cup leave us with no other choice for the summer tour.' Galthié said criticism of the decision to bring a team of obscure club players to New Zealand is misplaced. 'You have to be informative and try to explain the obligations which are linked to our season schedule,' he said. 'I understand very well that, on the international circuit, people don't understand why the team that went undefeated in November and won the (Six Nations) tournament isn't there.' The French club season has long been a bugbear which World Rugby hasn't addressed. The All Blacks will gain little or nothing from playing a team of players so little known that routine analysis of their play has been difficult. This season is expected to be a major test for Robertson, who lost four tests in his first season in charge and is under pressure to produce better results. It is unlikely the coming series will reveal much about how the All Blacks coach has grown since last year, unless the French prove surprisingly competitive. Robertson has admitted he lacked self-confidence in his first year in charge and that resulted in a conservative approach to selection and tactics. His choice of four new caps in this match and his pledge to play a more attacking game points to a more confident approach. 'We want to play fast,' Robertson said. 'We think the game is in a great place for us — quick scrums, quick lineouts, quick taps. Our skill set trends to us playing fast and creating so that's what we'll push all week.' Robertson said France will be 'quite free . . . there is not too much weight on their shoulders and respect so they can be dangerous.' ___ AP rugby:
