The All Blacks look set to face a weakened France outfit once again when they face off in the opening round of the Nations Championship in July.
A year on from their controversial three-Test series in New Zealand, which saw Les Bleus travel to the southern hemisphere with a severely understrength side, Fabien Galthie may have no other choice but to field a much-changed 23.
With the encounter taking place just a week after the Top 14 final, Galthie will not select any players from the clubs that feature in that encounter.
Although their policy has changed, effectively enabling the head coach to pick whoever he wants for the mid-year Tests according to Midi Olympique, that only applies to the latter two Tests against the Wallabies and Japan.
As a result, it could give Dave Rennie a more relaxed start to life in the All Blacks hotseat, even if a third-string France gave Scott Robertson’s men a couple of scares in 2025.
NZ Rugby’s anger
Rennie might be happy about that but NZ Rugby could take a dim view of it once again after reports they were “livid” by the tourists’ approach ahead of last year’s series.
They also received barbs from All Blacks legend Justin Marshall, who called it “disrespectful” for them to bring over a weakened squad.
“To be honest, I’m really disappointed,” Marshall said on The Breakdown ahead of the 2025 mid-year Tests.
“The side the French have bought is clearly underpowered and you’re talking about an average age of 25, and an average number of caps of 9.3, this is a side that has a very little amount of experience. There’s 49% of the players who have no caps at all, so it’s a development team with a few senior players involved.
“In my mind it’s complete BS, the way that they’re treating this tour, the way that the French always seem to have come up with excuses to not bring their top players. I feel they disrespect the international window.
“I’m not going to say that it’s not going to be a contest out there but our fans deserve to see their best players playing in our country against our All Blacks because we do that in November to them.
“We send our very best players to fill their stadiums and giving their fans the best experience they can get by seeing the best players in the world.
“They are not doing that and if they keep doing this, which is quite regular for them, just don’t invite them, we’ll play someone else.”
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France Test sold out in record time
NZ Rugby may be happier this time around, however, having seen ticket sales fly, with the clash in Christchurch sold out in just four hours.
They will hope the game matches the occasion and that France can at least put their best available team out on the field.
The All Blacks could still face the likes of Antoine Dupont if Toulouse go out of the Top 14 play-offs early but, given that they currently reside at the top by eight points, they are the favourites to reach the showpiece event.
Galthie may also simply decide to go down a similar route to last season given that France have never placed too much emphasis on the July internationals.
While “nothing is set in stone”, Midi Olympique reports, the head coach and his backroom team “are proceeding cautiously… depending on the players’ workload and fitness levels.”
There is more on the line this season thanks to the creation of the Nations Championship, but that still may not convince the 57-year-old to change tack.
France prepare for the competition when their ‘A’ side take on England in Vannes on June 19 before the squad fly to New Zealand on June 23 after the Top 14 finalists have been decided.
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