Preview: France v New Zealand

It seems the schedulers have saved the best for last. Having each claimed one of their two Tests this year, France and New Zealand come face to face again in Marseilles on Saturday.

While South Africa's visit to Dublin is being billed as the 'battle of the hemispheres' thanks to the trophies won this year by the protagonists, the clash at the Stade Vélodrome certainly merits a similar title. The victors should be dubbed the champions of November.

Indeed, unlike their Sanzar compatriots, New Zealand remain unbeaten on tour. And as the only team to have beaten both the Springboks and the All Blacks this year, France are arguably the form team in world rugby at the moment.

Victory for the hosts will confirm France's ranking as the northern hemisphere's top nation while New Zealand need to win to maintain their place at the top of the world rankings.

Of course all those stats and numbers will mean very little when it's time for the coup de envoi on Saturday.

Unfortunately for France, a spate of injuries has meant they will not line-up the same team that rumbled over the Springboks. The absence of hard-hitting number eight Louis Picamoles and flank Imanol Harinordoquy has definitely diluted the French back row's physicality while the loss of Maxime Mermoz has deprived their midfield of a bit of spark.

In all, there are seven changes to the side that bashed and then flashed their way to victory against South Africa but don't expect the gameplan to change much.

The inclusion of Maxime Médard on the wing and Sébastien Chabal in the second row has given the hosts a whisker of extra pace but we don't see Marc Lièvremont asking his team fling the ball about.

As in their victories in Dunedin and Toulouse, France will look to dominate up front first. Even against Samoa they rarely tried to break the though the opposition's defensive line, but rather took the ball up very flat and before nipping past with neat grubbers and chips over the top.

But will the new look French loose trio be up to the task of securing possession? Montpelliérain Fulgence Ouedraogo has played just one game in the Top 14 after recovering from injury - is that enough preparation to take on the likes of Richie McCaw and co.?

For the first time since taking over at the helm of Les Bleus, Marc Lièvremont was unwilling to comment on his selections - "I leave it up to each one of you (to comment) according to your tastes and mood" he told the press at Monday's team announcement. A sign of his unease after once again shuffling his team? A sign of his confidence? Time will tell.

As for the visitors, do the All Blacks have enough juice left in the tank to defend their lofty world ranking? Unbeaten in November they may be, but they didn't exactly set the Millennium, Twickenham or the San Siro alight.

'Clinical' is an overused word in rugby these days, but it probably best describes the team's tour of Europe. A single try in each game was not what we've come to expect from the All Blacks, but you can't argue with their defensive record: their try line has yet to be crossed.

Graham Henry's team never really looked in trouble in any of those three matches, but they will have to create more if they are to get the better of a French side high on confidence after a seven-try rout of Samoa.

What we've got on our hands is a showdown between the world's most potent counter-attacking teams. As ever, the result could well hinge on one of those flashes of brilliance that have made France-New Zealand clashes the most exciting of any match-up out there. Kick-off can't come soon enough!

Incidentally, the days of the home side changing their strip when there is a clash of colours are over: The All Blacks will wear white, Les Bleus will wear...blue!

Players to watch:

For France: Full-back in the win against the Boks, the ever-reliable, ever versatile Damien Traille has once again been handed the blue number fifteen jersey with one mission: keep the back door closed. France have waxed lyrical about the All Blacks' kicking game and Traille's selection seems as much a reaction to Dan Carter's return to New Zealand as anything else. Maxime Médard was at full-back when France won in Dunedin in June, but with Carter - like Morné Steyn a fortnight ago - set to test the France back three in the air, Lièvremont has preferred to anchor his team on Traille's experience rather than Médard's precocious attacking flair. The Biarritz centre's massive boot will be vital in the aerial battle with Carter and Mils Muliaina while also acting as back up to fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc.

For New Zealand: It could only be one man this week: Dan Carter is back in the south of France. They love Dan-the-man on the Mediterranean cost after he charmed the locals while nursing his snapped Achilles heel. No, the 'world's greatest fly-half' hasn't been at his sublime best of late, but that hasn't stopped Les Bleus from talking him up all week. That word 'clinical' crops up again. As mentioned above, it will probably be a moment of individual brilliance that wins it...need I say more?

Head-to-head: After being the centre of a storm in Italy-scrum-debacle Neemia Tialata has another tough assignment this week against Fabien Barcella, who is fast making a name for himself at the highest level. Of course around the fringes we're set for an awesome tussle between the captains, who both start on the openside. Richie McCaw needs no introduction and his opposite number, Thierry Dusautoir, has been in fantastic form. Lest we forget, it was Dusautoir who neutralised New Zealand so ably in Cardiff 2007...

Previous results:

2009: New Zealand won 14-10 in Wellington
2009: France won 27-22 in Dunedin
2007: France won 20-18 in Cardiff
2007: New Zealand won 61-10 in Wellington
2007: New Zealand won 42-11 in Auckland
2006: New Zealand won 23-11 in Paris
2006: New Zealand won 47-3 in Lyon
2004: New Zealand won 45-6 in Paris
2003: New Zealand won 40-13 in Sydney
2003: New Zealand won 31-23 in Christchurch

Prediction:The last time the teams met in Marseilles (in 2000), France won 42-33 in an absolute festival of tries - a repeat is unlikely considering how most Tests are played these days. We'll stick our necks out though, and back France to win by a whisker.

The teams:

France: 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Sébastien Chabal, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 William Servat, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Nicolas Mas, 18 Lionel Nallet, 19 Julien Puricelli, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Yann David, 22 Cédric Heymans.

New Zealand:15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Luke McAlister.

Date: Saturday, November 28
Kick-off: 20:45 (19:45 GMT)
Venue: Stade Vélodrome
Weather: Partially cloudy, Max: 14°C / Min: 6°C
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match officials: Nigel Whitehouse(Wales)
Assessor: Paul Bridgman (England)

By Ross Hastie