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Live blog: All Blacks v France

3rd & 7 37yd

Hello and welcome to live updates of tonight's international rugby match between the All Blacks and France from AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 5:52:46 AM
Following a ‘rusty’ 23-13 win over France at Eden Park last week, All Black coach Steve Hansen has put the heat on his starting XV to make significant improvements tonight.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:06:25 AM
Sam Whitelock has been brought in to fill his large boots, while Tony Woodcock and Piri Weepu have replaced Ben Afeaki and Tawera Kerr-Barlow, and will both start on the bench.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:06:33 AM
Captain Kieran Read will play his 50th test, with resting skipper Ritchie McCaw watching from the grandstand.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:06:40 AM
All Blacks:1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Liam Messam, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kieran Read - captain, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 13. Conrad Smith, 14. Ben Smith, 15. Israel Dagg.

Reserves: 16. Andrew Hore, 17. Tony Woodcock,18. Ben Franks, 19. Jeremy Thrush, 20. Victor Vito, 21. Piri Weepu, 22. Beauden Barrett, 23. Rene Ranger

France: 1 Thomas Domingo , 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 3 Nicolas Mas, 4 Christophe Samson, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautior (captain), 7 Bernard le Roux, 8 Louis Picamoles, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 10 Frederic Michalak, 11 Yoann Huget, 12 Wesley Fofana, 13 Florian Fritz, 14 Adrien Plante, 15 Maxime Medard.
Reserves: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Luc Ducalcon, 19 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 20 Yannick Nyanga, 21 Brice Dulin, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:07:43 AM
It’s a cold, wet night in Christchurch, and it brings back memories of the All Blacks’ struggles against Ireland in last year’s corresponding fixture in similarly miserable conditions.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:08:56 AM
What are your predictions for tonight's game? Click 'comment' and have your say.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:20:18 AM
Abs by 5.

by mike 6/15/2013 6:36:38 AM
ABs by 50

by d in brissi 6/15/2013 6:37:45 AM
a lot closer than we are expecting - the french always seem to have the capacity to suprise

by Display Name: 6/15/2013 6:41:24 AM
36 - 21 all blacks

by G25 6/15/2013 6:41:36 AM
Allo from Lyon Fr. Alle Fr, 10-3 France:)

by lazyjack 6/15/2013 6:42:19 AM
all blacks by 2

by mathew 6/15/2013 6:42:21 AM
Not a lot of love for the French in the early polling. The TAB tends to agree. France are paying $5.50 to win while NZ are valued at $1.12

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:44:41 AM
AB`s by 11,hope both sides explode and grab some tasty tries

by fakedalloy 6/15/2013 6:44:42 AM
AB by 10. damned! can't find a live stream.

by kjsnhaag (germany) 6/15/2013 6:47:01 AM
STAT TIME:

Christchurch will host the All Blacks' 500th test match, with their first test dating back to August 15th, 1903, when they beat Australia in Sydney. As far as milestone test matches go, the All Blacks losttheir 100th against the Lions in 1959, but have gone on to win their 200th (v Australia, 1982), 300th (v South Africa, 1996) and 400th (v Australia, 2005).

Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith will play their 45th test as a midfield pairing, which passes the number held by England's Will Carling and Jeremy Guscott. Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy hold the record, with a total of 50 tests.

The All Blacks have scored a try against France for 21 consecutive test matches, and if they can score three tries this weekend they will reach 150 tries against France. The All Blacks also need just 11 more points to achieve 500 points under coach Steve Hansen.

Referee Alain Rolland has officiated in 15 All Black matches, of which the All Blacks have won 13 and lost two. Rolland has had the whistle in three New Zealand v France test matches (Paris 2004, Marseille 2009, and the RWC Pool game in Auckland 2012), and the All Blacks have won all three.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:48:07 AM
All Blacks vs France Ami Stadium sous la pluie.#C+9h pic.twitter.com/guiLXrOZIy

by thomaslombard via twitter 6/15/2013 6:49:41 AM
greetings from sunny and warm germany to all kiwis. keep my fingers crossed or the AB. go for it!

by kjsnhaag (germany) 6/15/2013 6:50:07 AM
The rain looks to be easing, but it's certainly not going to be a night for chucking the ball around. "They will look to bring it down to a basic level where skills are 100% but speed isn't. It will be good for Woodcock, Weepu and Hore when they come on," says Ian Jones.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:54:06 AM
Another greeting from Germany. Berlin is gorgeous today, but watching rugby this early without beer is a little hard....

by crunchie 6/15/2013 6:54:22 AM
Come on all blacks we can do this

by hazelelliot 6/15/2013 6:54:24 AM
There is special emphasis on the key role of blindside tonight, with Liam Messam under pressure to hold his spot ahead of contenders like Victor Vito, Steven Luatua and Brad Shields.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:56:59 AM
"The reality though for Hansen is that tonight Messam will be sent into battle with non-ambiguous instructions to rekindle that intensity he showed in Hamilton last year to save his All Black career. Recalled from the wilderness having missed the initial squad, Messam delivered an unforgettably good 80 minutes in the 60-0 rout of Ireland.

"In the 12 months since Messam's seminal performance, he's become reliable rather than spectacular. He's reshaped his game - become tighter, harder and more comfortable with his enforcement portfolio." - Gregor Paul from the Herald on Sunday

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 6:57:57 AM
Reading game blog during daughters water polo game. I'm sure to cheer at the wrong part of her game. My blood is red and black.

by Aaron in Melbourne 6/15/2013 6:59:15 AM
france by 3,,nz first to score,half time 13-8 to ab's,, go the ab's,, heres to an entertaining game,hope to see french flair,,

by cardronaskifieldhassewerage... 6/15/2013 6:59:19 AM
I say we all put in a few dollars to send steven on a big OE as he is always working here for us

by AL 6/15/2013 7:01:11 AM
I like you AL and I like your ideas. Keep me posted on how the fundraising goes.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 7:01:55 AM
If running rugby is your thing, tonight's game might not be for you but this clip definitely will be. Check out the wheels on Carlin Isles.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 7:06:26 AM
Need Hanson to teach these AFL players in Melbourne what a real tackle is, A
ussie rules might be interesting then. Go the Blacks!

by Aaron in Melbourne 6/15/2013 7:06:52 AM
28 minutes till kick off now and the crowd and atmosphere is building in Christchurch. Sumo Stevenson is pitchside and describes conditions as "chilly and wet", which is really all the information you need.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 7:09:14 AM
by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 7:13:37 AM
Chilly and wet means tough as guts forward play. Just what the Canterbury faithful appreciate!

by Aaron in Melbourne 6/15/2013 7:14:00 AM
Sitting out here in the Gulf of Thailand..waiting for kick off..one Kiwi, 2 Frenchmen...and a helluva lot of rednecks from Louisiana, Mississipi and Alabama..

by Mark 6/15/2013 7:14:35 AM
Wet weather rugby coming up. Time for the AB forwards to show whether they have it - or not. 17-11 to the home side

by Hong Kong Fooey 6/15/2013 7:15:00 AM
24-15 to the All Blacks. Just wait and see.

by Jim 6/15/2013 7:16:18 AM
When does the dwarf fighting start? Oh wait, wrong blog...

by Tony 6/15/2013 7:19:16 AM
all blacks biggest lose aginst france ever!

by jesus jones 6/15/2013 7:19:31 AM
Jesus Jones, what a great name. Not sure about the prediction though.

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 7:20:14 AM
Just watched Japan beat Wales 22-8 at Chichibunomiya Stadium in Tokyo. Racing home to catch ABs

by Ed 6/15/2013 7:20:28 AM
AB's by 21! Expecting a lot if action in the forwards for most if the game. Score to double in last 20 minutes.

by Jock Sicily Italy 6/15/2013 7:20:31 AM
On last weeks blog we had a watcher from Scott Base in Antarctica. Anyone enjoying tonight's game from a more unlikely location?

by Steven Holloway 6/15/2013 7:22:24 AM
I don't think 'Jesus Jones' is sitting in some Pub in Canterbury watching the Game on the Big Screen...hahahahaha

by Mark 6/15/2013 7:22:34 AM
This game will be fought up front by the forwards with backs not seeing much ball till late in the game. When they do get it early, look to see some tactical kicks to put the other team on the backfoot. Go All Blacks!!!

by Wookiee Wildman 6/15/2013 7:23:00 AM