Saturday night, the Blues will have to deliver an almost perfect performance if they want to end a series of 14 defeats against New Zealand. Here are the keys to achieving this feat.
A few figures to start with and measure the scale of the task. 21 years since the Blues have not beaten New Zealand in France. 12 years that they have not beaten them at all (current series of 14 defeats…). And, perhaps most worryingly, the All Blacks just lost in Dublin. But it is not in their habits to concede two setbacks in a row. It’s quite simple, for a decade, this has only happened twice. In 2011, when the men in black lost against South Africa (18-5) then Australia (25-20), and last year, with two consecutive losses against Australia (24-22 ) then Argentina (25-15) in a Rugby Championship under cover because of Covid.
One last figure, to be a little more afraid: during these ten years, the All Blacks have played 133 games. Conceding only… 13 losses! It is therefore not a revelation to assert that the Blues of Antoine Dupont will have to achieve the almost perfect match for
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