Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the International Rugby Union match.
New Zealand
In the opening fixture in Dunedin on the South Island, New Zealand emerged victorious, though only by a narrow 31:27 margin. They had to claw their way back after France raced to a 10:0 lead by the 17th minute. The hosts responded swiftly, drawing level six minutes later with a pair of tries. They registered more than triple the line breaks of their opponents (13 to 4) and completed almost twice as many carries (182 to 94).
France
France were on the defensive for much of the match, spending a third of the contest inside their own 22-metre area. Even in the final ten minutes, they were under sustained pressure, with 38 % of that period spent defending as New Zealand looked to protect a narrow 28:27 advantage. This closely fought match followed the pattern of previous encounters between these sides — in two of the last three meetings, the losing team finished within a +5.5 handicap, though in those cases it was New Zealand on the wrong side of the scoreline.
New Zealand vs France Prediction
We don’t anticipate a heavy defeat for France — they’re simply too resilient for that. While the hosts may well edge out another victory, there’s strong value in backing the visitors with a comfortable handicap. We’ve even extended the margin slightly for additional security.
