All Blacks' performance is no cause for depression

Between injuries and a surprisingly strong French B-side, the All Blacks have their work cut out for them. A long-time rugby journalist says Saturday's showdown in Wellington is anyone's game.

Rugby commentating legend Phil Gifford won't bet against the French when they take on the All Blacks in Wellington tomorrow night.

"It's France, I don't know what the hell I'm expecting to be honest," he tells The Detail.

"It could go either way."

In Friday's episode of The Detail, Gifford discusses captaincy, TMOs (Television Match Officials), the number 10 jersey, and - after 50 years of rugby journalism - he has some wise advice for those planning on waging a bet.

"Don't put a large amount of money that you can't afford on it, for goodness' sake. You might make your fortune, but on the other side of the coin, it is France. And anybody who bets large amounts of money either for or against France in rugby is really not being very sensible."

Despite fielding a B-team in New Zealand - part of their Rugby World Cup planning strategy - the French still proved competitive against a full-strength All Blacks side in Dunedin last week.

They scored the first try and ultimately lost by only four points, 31-27.

"It was an extraordinary game, quite surreal in many ways because everybody expected the poor old French, I think, to be thrashed basically.

"I thought the French played exceptionally well. I thought that we played well in patches, certainly plenty of promise there with some of the players they have brought in, particularly young Fabian Holland, the lock, from the Highlanders.

"By and large, it was one of the weirdest test matches I've seen, but I certainly don't feel depressed about the All Blacks' prospects for this season."

For tomorrow night's game, the All Blacks selectors have favoured consistency, naming a largely settled side with just two injury-enforced changes.

Rieko Ioane moves to the right wing with Sevu Reece out with a concussion. Caleb Clarke makes the starting XV on the left.

Patrick Tuipulotu will also start at lock with captain Scott Barrett out of the series due to a calf injury. Ardie Savea will replace Barrett as captain.

"[Scott Barrett] is definitely a blow; he has proven himself, I think, with the Crusaders and the All Blacks. He's that sort of solid guy that you know every game he's going to go out there and leave absolutely everything on the field.

"When you watch Barrett in the last quarter of a game, that's when I think he's at his best because he really, really is an absolute workhorse, and he's also extremely good on defence, he's terrific on defence, and so he's a helluva blow."

But Gifford welcomes Savea as the replacement skipper.

"All of us love Ardie Savea, how could you not ... for Moana Pacifica, he just played his heart out. He's a fabulous footballer ... but are we expecting a bit too much of Ardie? Because he looked, to me, absolutely wrung out at the end of Super Rugby.

"But fingers crossed, he is the sort of guy that I would imagine, for example, in this next test coming up in Wellington, he will be playing the way he always does for 80 minutes of non-stop action."

Sports reports and commentary this week have been critical of referees and the overuse of TMOs, and Gifford agrees that the TMOs slow down the game.

"You now have so many eyes on it [the game]," Gifford tells The Detail podcast.

"Every time they [the All Blacks] take a breath, it's examined by about three or four pairs of eyes.

"Once upon a time, when you were at the ground, you clapped and cheered and jumped up and down, or whatever you did, or you were in your living room, and you did the same thing.

"But now a try scored, you think 'don't go to the TMO, don't go to the TMO, don't go to the TMO', but nine times out of 10 they do."

The second test kicks off at 7:05 pm on Saturday. The French will be buoyed by their first test performance and will be looking to beat the All Blacks on home soil for the first time since 2009.

But they have never beaten the All Blacks in Wellington, a record the Kiwi side will be determined to continue.

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