New Zealand centre Anton Lienert-Brown described France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont as a “freakish player” forward of the groups’ conflict in Paris on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 22:10 (SA time).

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Olympic sevens champion Dupont, who turns 28 on Friday, returned to Les Bleus’ 15-a-side crew for the primary time in additional than a yr in final weekend’s win over Japan.

The scrumhalf offered two assists having additionally starred in his first membership sport in October, scoring a nine-minute hat-trick.

“He’s one of the faces of rugby around the world and just someone that performs week in and week out,” Lienert-Brown informed AFP from New Zealand’s crew resort within the French capital.

“A freakish participant but when we will dominate collisions, then Antoine Dupont gained’t have as a lot time on the ball.

“If you can nullify his influence on the game, it goes a long way to getting the result you want,” the 29-year-old added.

The All Blacks head to the Stade de France on a excessive having crushed Japan, England and Ireland over the previous month.

The victories have silenced the doubters after Scott Robertson began his tenure as coach with an unconvincing June sequence and Rugby Championship marketing campaign.

“All throughout this year we feel like we’re building, been building as a team,” Lienert-Brown mentioned.

“The actuality is in excessive efficiency sport, and whenever you’re taking part in for the All Blacks, you’ve received to win and also you anticipate to win.

“Even although we had been discovering our ft as a crew, we nonetheless anticipated to win these video games and we’re not making an excuse for the time it’s taken for us to gel collectively

“Ireland last week was probably the best Test we’ve played all year,” he added.

‘World class’ Fickou

Lienert-Brown is the fourth most-capped participant in Robertson’s matchday squad.

The bodily Chiefs midfielder made the primary of his 82 Test appearances in 2016 however has began simply 4 of Robertson’s 12 video games in cost this yr.

Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane have been most well-liked to Lienert-Brown by Robertson to face Les Bleus.

“When you first come in here, it’s hugely exciting. You get to just play rugby and it’s fun,” Lienert-Brown mentioned.

“Then you get to a sure stage in your profession the place you’ve had just a few assessments and I suppose the expectation is to begin main in areas.

“The special thing about rugby and in this environment and all the professional environments is if you’re not a hardworking, good person, you probably won’t be around for long,” he added.

Lienert-Brown may come up towards the equally-experienced Gael Fickou in France’s midfield if he will get off the replacements bench.

“I think he’s a world class centre,” Lienert-Brown mentioned of the 91-time capped Fickou.

“He’s an enormous man, strong on assault. I do know he’s massively influential within the defensive system.

“When you look at previewing a team, you look at a player like Antoine Dupont and then Gael Fickou is another person you talk about,” he added.

TEAMS

France

15 Romain Buros, 14 Gabin Villiere, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Alexandre Roumat, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Tevita Tatafu, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Charles Ollivon, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton

New Zealand

15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Reiko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyral Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse