All Blacks expect French counter strike

Exciting French fullback Maxime Medard is part of an-Toulouse back three. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks have identified the counter attacking class of an all-Toulouse back three as a major threat in Saturday's first rugby test against France in Dunedin.

Fullback Maxime Medard and wingers Cedric Heymans and Vincent Clerc have all starred this year for the French club giants, their willingness to strike from deep at club and international level something that caught the eye of New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith.

He believes the trio will be given a free licence by coach Marc Lievremont, something unlikely to have happened when France were mentored by conservative predecessor Bernard Laporte.

"Under Lievremont, they've counter attacked a lot more than they have in the past eight years or so," Smith said .

"You've got to be careful with the opportunities you're going to give them.

"You've got to kick well but you've also got to chase well.

"They're playing a different sort of game. Under him (Lievremont) they move the ball a lot more, they're a lot more dangerous."

Medard has quickly emerged as one of the most exciting attackers in French rugby while the exciting Clerc is returning to French colours after more than a year sidelined with a knee injury.

The aggressive Heymans will play his 50th test on Saturday, reprising the wing combination which started in France's 2007 World Cup quarterfinal defeat of New Zealand in Cardiff. Two other starters have been retained - flanker/captain Thierry Dusautoir and second five-eighth Damien Traille, who was fullback in Cardiff.

Forwards Sebastien Chabal and Dimitri Szarzewski were on the reserve bench of both teams.

A huge defensive effort and kicking game won the day for France in Cardiff but Smith is convinced a more visionary French side has come to New Zealand.

Even though rugby has changed vastly under professionalism, Smith believes it is still worth referring to France's stylish two-test series sweep of New Zealand 15 years ago as a blueprint for what the tourists are capable of.

"You go back to the '94 series, they were magnificent," he said.

"They've always been able to do that but they've been a lot more structured in the past - certainly, since we've been playing them as a group of coaches.

"He (Lievremont) has brought a bit more variety to their game, which makes them a bit more dangerous."

Lievremont, whose 25th and final test as a player was the 1999 World Cup final, succeeded Laporte after the veteran coach stood down following the 2007 World Cup.

ALL BLACKS v FRANCE

Record:
Played 46. Won 34, lost 11, drawn 1.

In New Zealand:
Played 21. Won 18, lost 3.

Biggest win: 61-10 at Wellington, 2007
Biggest loss: 22-8 at Christchurch, 1994

Last five meetings:
2007: lost 18-20 at Cardiff (World Cup QF)
2007: won 61-10 at Wellington
2007: won 42-11 at Auckland
2006: won 23-11 at Paris
2006: won 47-3 at Lyon

Most tests:
NZ: Sean Fitzpatrick, John Kirwan 12
France: Serge Blanco 12

Most points:
NZ: Daniel Carter, Andrew Mehrtens 92
France: Christophe Lamaison 71

Most tries:
NZ: Joe Rokococko 8
France: Serge Blanco, Phillipe Saint-Andre 3

- NZPA