France V All Blacks: Player Review

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Post on Nov 17, 2024

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France v All Blacks: A Player-by-Player Review of a Thrilling Encounter

France's emphatic 40-25 victory over the All Blacks in their Rugby World Cup opener sent shockwaves through the rugby world. While the final scoreline reflects a comfortable win, the match itself was a captivating rollercoaster, showcasing both breathtaking brilliance and frustrating lapses from both sides. Let's delve into a player-by-player review, dissecting individual performances and their contribution to the overall result.

France:

• Antoine Dupont (Captain): The orchestrator-in-chief. Dupont's sniping runs, tactical kicking, and overall game management were exceptional. His influence on the breakdown was crucial, disrupting New Zealand's momentum repeatedly. A captain's performance deserving of the highest praise. Rating: 9/10

• Melvyn Jaminet: A near-flawless display with the boot, Jaminet's accurate goal-kicking was the difference on several occasions. His high ball game was also solid, offering a reliable target under pressure. Rating: 8/10

• Damian Penaud: A powerhouse on the wing. Penaud consistently beat his opposite number and was a constant threat, culminating in a crucial try. His defensive contributions were also noteworthy. Rating: 8.5/10

• Gaël Fickou: Solid in midfield, Fickou provided a strong defensive presence and offered intelligent support play. While not spectacular, his consistency was invaluable. Rating: 7.5/10

• Jonathan Danty: A physical presence in midfield, Danty’s powerful carries helped to keep France moving forward. His tackling was also impactful. Rating: 7/10

• Gregory Alldritt: A tireless worker in the back row, Alldritt’s breakdown work was relentless, disrupting New Zealand's ball-carrying options. His contributions in the loose were immense. Rating: 8/10

• Antoine Jelonch: Jelonch showcased his defensive prowess, making several crucial tackles and turnovers. He brought the necessary physicality to the French back row. Rating: 7.5/10

• Cameron Woki: A strong performance in the lineout and breakdown. Woki's all-around game was solid, offering balance to the French back row. Rating: 7/10

• Cyril Baille: Baille’s scrummaging dominance laid the foundation for many of France's attacking opportunities. His set-piece contribution was vital. Rating: 8/10

• Julien Marchand: A powerful presence in the forward pack, Marchand’s carries were impactful and his lineout throwing was largely accurate. Rating: 7.5/10

• Uini Atonio: Atonio provided the necessary grunt in the scrums and mauls, contributing significantly to France's dominance in the set-piece battle. Rating: 7/10

New Zealand:

• Aaron Smith: A valiant effort in the face of immense pressure, Smith battled hard but found it difficult to control the game against France's relentless defense. Rating: 6.5/10

• Rieko Ioane: Showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the consistency required to truly impact the game. His defensive efforts were inconsistent. Rating: 6/10

• Will Jordan: Similar to Ioane, Jordan struggled to find space against France's disciplined defence. Rating: 6/10

• Sam Cane (Captain): Cane fought valiantly but ultimately couldn't provide the leadership needed to overcome France's intensity. Rating: 6/10

• Ardie Savea: Savea was a bright spot for the All Blacks, demonstrating his usual power and determination in attack. However, even his efforts were insufficient. Rating: 7/10

• Ethan de Groot: The All Blacks' scrum struggled against France, limiting de Groot's ability to influence the game. Rating: 5.5/10

• Codie Taylor: Taylor fought hard in the lineouts but couldn't prevent France's dominance at the set-piece. Rating: 6/10

Overall:

The match highlighted the gulf in performance between the two teams, particularly in set-piece dominance and breakdown efficiency. While several All Blacks players produced decent performances, the collective effort was simply not enough to counter France's well-oiled machine. France’s victory was built on a foundation of exceptional individual performances, excellent team cohesion, and a clear game plan executed to perfection. This win establishes France as serious contenders for the World Cup title.