There is a heavyweight Nations Championship contest taking place in Christchurch on Saturday when New Zealand take on France.
A year ago a depleted France squad including eight debutants turned up in New Zealand and were 20-point underdogs in the opening Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
However, the tourists raced into a 10-0 lead and a roller-coaster game ended in a 31-27 victory for the hosts.
Les Bleus are again missing some key players for this Nations Championship opener, notably their Toulouse contingent, including half-backs Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, but still have a strong side.
New Zealand under a new coach in Dave Rennie are looking to bring some more consistency and attacking intent to the side.
New Zealand v France Tips Summary
Best Bet - Over 57.5 points @ 10/11
Alternative Bet - New Zealand to win by 11-20 points @ 11/4
Bet Builder - New Zealand to win, Cam Roigard to score a try & Second half to be highest scoring @ 15/4
New Zealand v France Predictions
Best Bet: Over 57.5 points @ 10/11
The All Blacks make their first appearance of 2026 at a new venue - the One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, opened in March.
The venue has a fixed roof, and when you combine two teams packed with attacking flair in an indoor arena, the potential is there for a high-scoring encounter.
One of the criticisms of outgoing New Zealand coach Scott Robertson was his failure to get enough out of his attacking unit, and there were reports of a lack of harmony in the squad.
This is a fresh start and new coach Rennie has picked on form, selecting Hurricanes fly-half Ruben Love for his first start at number 10, with free-scoring Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan on the wings.
There’s no Louis Bielle-Biarrey for France but Damian Penaud and Theo Attissogbe are proven finishers, and Bordeaux pair Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert are experienced half-back partners.
However, there has to be some concern about the French defence and Les Bleus shipped 96 points in their last two Six Nations matches, losing 50-40 to Scotland before beating England 48-46.
Although they topped the Six Nations table, only bottom side Wales conceded more tries than France.
Five of the last seven meetings between these teams have gone over the 57.5-point mark and this showdown looks set to go the same way.
Alternative Bet: New Zealand to win by 11-20 points @ 11/4
New Zealand haven’t lost to France on home soil since 2009, a run of 12 matches.
With little more than a year to go until the Rugby World Cup they will be aiming to catch the eye of new coach Rennie, and a side built around Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes, they should impress.
France look sure to have a say and the All Blacks bench is not the most experienced but the hosts look well equipped to keep their visitors at arm’s length.
New Zealand v France Bet Builder Tip
New Zealand to win
Cam Roigard to score a try
Second half to be highest scoring
Pays 15/4
It’s hard to see a depleted France side upsetting the odds in Christchurch and a home win looks like a solid anchor leg for a bet builder.
The All Blacks have some outstanding backs but matches against France are often fought at close quarters too and scrum-half Cam Roigard so often finds himself in the thick of the action close to the line.
Roigard scored in two of his three autumn Tests and in his last two meetings with France.
Two heavyweight packs are likely to make for a slightly cagey start but the game should open up after the break as the benches start to be emptied.
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Key Match Stats
New Zealand have won their last 12 meetings with France on home soil
Six Nations champions France conceded 50 and 46 points in their last two matches
Five of the last seven meetings between these teams have had 58 points or more
New Zealand won 10 of 13 matches last year, losing to England, South Africa and Argentina, all away from home
Will Jordan has scored 45 tries in 54 Tests for New Zealand including in two of his last three games
All Black scrum-half Cam Roigard has scored seven tries in his last nine Test starts
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
