Rugby World Cup quarter-finals: New Zealand to batter France

Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | October 15, 2015

New Zealand v France

Rugby World Cup 2015 quarter-final
Saturday, October 17th
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Live on ITV

All Blacks worthy favourites to reach semis

New Zealand have won eight of their nine matches with France since being beaten by Les Bleus at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and scored double the amount of tries managed by Les Bleus in the Pool Stage of this edition.

It’s little wonder, then, Coral make the All Blacks odds-on at 2/11 to win this quarter-final clash in 80 minutes, and the French are big outsiders at 5/1.

McCaw and Parra return for respective nations

Flanker Richie McCaw is recalled by New Zealand after being rested against Tonga last time out, while Les Bleus boss Philippe Saint-Andre drops centre Mathieu Bastareaud and promotes kicker Morgan Parra into his XV at scrum half, whose experience identified his experience as important.

“Morgan’s a big competitor. We’re counting on his leadership skills, especially with the forwards,” said Saint-Andre. “I expect first we get more ball than last week because the set-piece wasn’t good. We need more ball and to use it and play rugby. Last week, we were 70 per cent in defence and only 30 in attack.”