What time does New Zealand vs France start? RWC 2015 preview, what channel is it on and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to this Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final at the Millennium Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.2011’s final gets brought back to life for a titanic clash at the Millennium Stadium as Pool C winners New Zealand take on Pool D runners-up France.
It’s a big game for…
Alexandre Dumoulin: The Racing 92 centre has stepped into the boots of Mathieu Bastareaud and he will need to have a big game if he is to front up to Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu. It’s hard to imagine a French backline without Bastareaud, but Dumoulin has to show his stuff in order to fill the gap.
Teams...
New Zealand: Ben Smith; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams.
France: Scott Spedding; Noa Nakaitaci, Alexandre Dumoulin, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin; Frederic Michalak, Morgan Parra; Louis Picamoles, Bernard le Roux, Thierry Dusautoir; Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape; Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado, Eddy Ben Arous.
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Damien Chouly, Yannick Nyanga, Rory Kockott, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud.
Best stat…
7 – This is the number of times these two teams have contested each other in the World Cup, making this the most contested match in the history of the World Cup.
Remember when…
France decided to challenge the Haka? While everyone may reflect to the 2007 meeting between the two sides, you can't look past the 2011 World Cup final, France gave the hosts their black jerseys but also decided to not just stand idly by whilst the All Blacks publicly challenged them. They advanced forward in a flying V formation to face the challenge. They narrowly lost the match but were insulted further by a fine from the IRB for crossing the halfway line.
Player to watch…
Ben Smith: The New Zealand full-back has managed to make more metres over the gain-line than any other player in the knock out stages at 306. With a statistic like that, it’s a small wonder New Zealand have managed to bully through the defences of some of the sides in their pools.
Past three-meetings…
France 19 (Dulin) – New Zealand 26 (Piutau, Read). Autumn Internationals 2013.
New Zealand 24 (Smith, Barrett) – France 9. Summer Internationals 2013.
New Zealand 30 (Savea, Smith, Barrett) – France 0. Summer Internationals 2013.
Form guide…
New Zealand: LWWWWW
France: WWWWWL
Vital information…
Kick-off: 20.00 Saturday 17th October.
TV: Live on ITV/, highlights on ITV
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