It’s the match all Kiwi fans were desperate to avoid with painful memories of THAT 2007 defeat still very real.

Various New Zealand coaches and players have tried to play down the significance of the similarities between this match and that fateful clash in 2007. There is certainly an argument to say it will have no bearing at all on the outcome this weekend – only a couple of players still remain from that squad and since then Les Bleus have lost eight of the nine encounters between the teams.

But as we know, French rugby is based mainly on confidence and they will take plenty from the knowledge that they are New Zealand’s historical banana skin. The French have beaten the All Blacks more times than any other Northern Hemisphere country and seem to thrive on the big occasions against the best team in the world. Will 2015 go down alongside 1999 and 2007 as another famous victory for France?

NEW ZEALAND

They didn’t quite hit the standards expected of them during the pool stages but it’s naïve to read too much into that. It’s hard to raise your game to world class standards when you aren’t playing world class opposition and I expect them to be at a different level on Saturday.

Hansen has been experimenting with a few combinations over the last four matches but reverts back to his tried and tested players for this one and will be hoping that experience makes the difference. The average number of caps amongst the XV who will start this weekend is 65 with only winger Nehe Milner-Skudder having less than 30.

If they can execute in the set pieces and cut out the handling errors that have been too common in the last four matches then New Zealand will be very difficult to beat.

One to watch: Ben Smith

Smith has been at the heart of many of the positive passages of play from New Zealand’s group matches. He is composed in defence, lethal in attack and will punish any poor kicking up the field from Scott Spedding or Freddie Michalak.

FRANCE

It wouldn’t be a World Cup without a French mutiny and so reports this week suggesting Philippe Saint-André has lost the support of his players seems fitting. If their 2011 revolt is anything to go by, it may not be such a bad thing – the French seem to come out firing when their backs are against the wall.

Steve Hansen has been lamenting the recent lack of flair in French rugby but with Mathieu Bastareaud dropping to the bench and Alexandre Dumoulin combining with Wesley Fofana in the centres, the French might actually be intending to play some running rugby.

The real battle will come in the forwards. New Zealand had their scrum put under real pressure against Georgia and Tonga and so the front row of Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado and Rabah Slmiani will be looking to get an advantage here, particularly as New Zealand are missing stalwart Tony Woodcock. However, if their scrum and lineout are as poor as they were against Ireland then a win will be unlikely.

One to watch: Thierry Dusautoir

When asked about being underdogs for the match the French captain responded: “You always have reasons to believe. I have played 11 or 12 times against the All Blacks and not once were we favourites. But that didn’t stop us from beating them.” Dusautoir was at the heart of that 2007 upset and can inspire his team to believe it can be done again.

PREDICTION

There are so many mini-battles and sub plots in this match: McCaw v Dusautoir, Carter v Michalak, Fofana v Nonu, to name but a few. The result may well come down to what type of game France decide to play. To win they will need to be at their best, getting their big forwards over the gain line and then using their speed in the backs to exploit gaps.

Even with an inspired French performance I can’t see beyond a New Zealand victory. With such quality across the whole team, a ridiculous amount of experience and a set of replacements that will cause massive issues, it is a chance for them to avenge that painful 2007 defeat and I expect them to take it. New Zealand by 10.

By Joe Ogden (@JoeOgden90)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images