Latest news with #seriesSweep
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is New Zealand vs France on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch All Blacks
New Zealand take on France looking to seal a 3-0 series sweep in Hamilton. With the visitors understrength having been unable to select most of their Six Nations-winning stars, the All Blacks had been anticipated to win on home soil but were still given a real scare in the opening encounter in Dunedin. A much improved first-half showing last weekend in Wellington ensured that New Zealand were comfortable winners, though a few stumbles after the interval will leave Scott Robertson still seeking an 80-minute performance from his team. Can France pounce on any complacency to secure a significant result in this third and final fixture? Here's everything you need to know. When is New Zealand vs France? New Zealand vs France is due to kick off at 8.05am BST on Saturday 19 July at FMG Stadium in Hamilton. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports action, with coverage from 7.50am BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW. Team news All Blacks boss Scott Robertson rotates in places as he freshens up his squad for the third Test. A shuffle of playmakers sees Damian McKenzie stationed at full-back with youngster Ruben Love given an opportunity at full-back, while fit-again wing Sevu Reece is also included in the starting back three. Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown form a new-look centre partnership. Rieko Ioane is a late scratch with a tight hamstring; Will Jordan steps into the starting side and Jordie Barrett on to the bench. Up front, Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson join Ardie Savea in the back row, with the openside flanker continuing to captain in the absence of Scott Barrett. Replacement hooker Brodie McAlister is primed for a debut off the bench. Gael Fickou returns to skipper the France side from the centres, with he and tighthead prop Rabah Slimani injecting significant experience after Fabien Galthie fielded a particularly callow unit in the second Test. Joshua Brennan moves a row backwards from lock to flanker to join the equally versatile Mickael Guillard, again stationed at No 8, while Antoine Hastoy re-takes the reins at fly half. Gabin Villiere gets a start ahead of Emilien Gailleton on the wing Line-ups New Zealand XV: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3 Tyrel Lomax; 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 5 Fabian Holland; 6 Samipeni Finau, 7 Ardie Savea (capt.), 8 Luke Jacobson; 9 Cortez Ratima, 10 Damian McKenzie; 11 Sevu Reece, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Will Jordan; 15 Ruben Love. : 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Dalton Papali'i, 20 Du'Plessis Kirifi; 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Jordie Barrett. France XV: 1 Baptiste Erdocio, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 3 Rabah Slimani; 4 Hugo Auradou, 5 Matthias Halagahu; 6 Alexandre Fischer, 7 Joshua Brennan, 8 Mickael Guillard; 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 10 Antoine Hastoy; 11 Gabin Villiere, 12 Gael Fickou (capt.), 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 14 Theo Attissogbe; 15 Leo Barre. : 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Pierre Bochaton; 22 Thibault Daubagna, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
France 24
17-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
New Zealand, France make mass changes to sides for third Test
Damian McKenzie (R) will start at flyhalf in New Zealand's third Test against France All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he will "trust the young fellas" to complete a series sweep after making 10 starting changes for Saturday's match in Hamilton. French counterpart Fabien Galthie unveiled eight starting changes from the side hammered 43-17 in the second Test in Wellington. Galthie recalled six players to the starting side who were involved in the tight 31-27 first Test loss in Dunedin but omitted in Wellington. Among them are veteran midfield back Gael Fickou -- restored as captain -- experienced prop Rabah Slimani and impressive back-row forwards Mickael Guillard and Alexandre Fischer. Galthie chose to leave most of his first-choice personnel at home, travelling with a tour party featuring 22 uncapped players and numerous fringe Test contenders. "This is the best possible team," he told reporters on Thursday, addressing critics of a vastly inexperienced line-up for the second Test. "It's a difficult time for the team, we hear what's being said. It's part of the game but our determination is redoubled." Replacement prop Demba Bamba is the only player in Galthie's 23-man match-day squad in Hamilton making his first appearance of the tour. Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and wing Theo Attissogbe will have started in all three Tests while seven players won't have taken to the playing field at all. Robertson stayed true to his pre-series pledge to give game time to all of his squad's players, with hooker Brodie McAlister poised to make his Test debut from the bench and fullback Ruben Love running out for a first start. Love and McAlister are among eight players in the 23 who played no part in the first two Tests Only wing Rieko Ioane is retained from last week's starting back line, with Robertson keen to assess a host of new faces as he builds towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup. "When the chances come up, you can't not play them, you've got to get them out there," Robertson said. "It's the ability to trust the young fellas, set them up to be successful and off you go." Robertson took comfort that three of the promoted starting players -- prop Tyrel Lomax, fly-half Damian McKenzie and midfield back Anton Lienert-Brown -- have all played more than 50 Tests. McKenzie replaces 136-Test veteran Beauden Barrett, who suffered a hand injury at training which requires a scan. Ardie Savea is captain for a second straight match in the absence of regular skipper Scott Barrett, who injured a calf muscle in the first Test. New Zealand (15-1): Ruben Love; Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Rieko Ioane; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (capt), Samipeni Finau; Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu; Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ethan de Groot. Replacements: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Dalton Papali'i, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Noah Hotham, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Will Jordan. France (15-1): Leo Barre; Theo Attissogbe, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Fickou (capt), Gabin Villiere; Antoine Hastoy, Nolann Le Garrec; Joshua Brennan, Mickael Guillard, Alexandre Fischer; Matthias Halagahu, Hugo Auradou; Rabah Slimani, Pierre Bourgarit, Baptiste Erdocio. Replacements: Gaetan Barlot, Paul Mallez, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Killian Tixeront, Pierre Bochaton, Thibault Daubagna, Emilien Gailleton © 2025 AFP
