All Blacks: Restoration in Marseille

Mils Muliaina, here playing against England, says: “This is a massive test and we are going to throw everything at this French team.” Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks aren't normally so forthcoming. But they have said their entire season will be defined by what happens in Marseilles this week.

The instant the French defeated South Africa two weeks ago, that was it; that was when the All Blacks knew for sure that their final test of the season was going to be their toughest.

It has not been a vintage year for the All Blacks. We all know that. They opened with a loss - Dunedin against France and then fell to three defeats against South Africa. In the 13 tests they have played so far they have won nine. That's not bad - England would kill for that. But in the country where the critics never rest, it is not quite enough. To end up with 10 from 14 wins would somehow make things seem a whole lot better.

It's also true that ending a season on a high makes a big difference on how the past 12 months is viewed. Sign off with a good win in Marseilles, against a good French team and life will be good. The unfortunate loss in Dunedin will feel like another lifetime ago. The shambles of Bloemfontein will belong to another era.

"We have gone undefeated so far and this is the big one," said Mils Muliaina. "This is a massive test and we are going to throw everything at this French team. We have come a little bit unstuck with the French before as people know. It's fair to say that we have to [judge our season by what happens against France].The way they played against South Africa, they are really physical.

"Next week is going to be massive. Marseilles is going to be pretty hostile.

"We know that it is going to be a big week and the coaches now have a massive task ahead of them to pick the team that is hopefully going to do the business against France."

The All Blacks have only won one of their last three tests against France - the second clash in Wellington this year. The previous two were both memorable defeats - the shock loss in Dunedin and the game that shall not be spoken of in 2007.

So there is not only a desire to put this season right - there is a bigger picture of revenge here with France needing to be paid back for all the pain and misery they have inflicted.

It won't be easy, which is a point Daniel Carter acknowledged and he expects the All Blacks will be forced to work even harder on defence than they have on any game of this tour so far.

"Our defence is something we really pride ourselves on and to have three games and no tries is something we are proud of and something we want to keep for next week," he said.

"But it won't be easy."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY