France have ‘great chance’ against New Zealand despite weakened side: ex-All Black Aaron Cruden
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PARIS – Former New Zealand fly-half Aaron Cruden believes that France will pose a serious threat to the All Blacks in July, despite sending a depleted outfit on the three-Test tour.
Six Nations champions Les Bleus are set to rest first-choice players such as Romain Ntamack, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Thomas Ramos for the games, starting on July 5, due to a clash with the end of the French club season.
The French Rugby Federation and the country’s professional sides had announced in October that no players involved in the Top 14 final on June 28 would be included in the tour to the three-time Rugby World Cup champions.
“They’ve got a great chance and I don’t think it matters to the players who come, or who doesn’t come,” Cruden said.
“As a rugby fan, you’re a bit disappointed because you’d love to see the best French side go against the best All Black side. (But) even if it is a so-called second- or third-string French team, the depth in France at the moment is crazy.”
Cruden played the last of his 50 Tests in 2017, having won the Rugby World Cup six years earlier on home soil.
After his international career, he had spells in France and Japan and is gearing up for a campaign with Waikato in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.
Things could have gone very differently for him, however.
Aged just 19 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
“I have very vivid memories, of being in hospital and hooked up to the drip,” the 36-year-old said, as part of the Human After All: The Alternative Team Photo campaign launched by Bupa and New Zealand Rugby.
“Just getting pumped with chemotherapy drugs. I guess detecting it very early on and getting into a pretty aggressive form of treatment certainly helped out, in regards to eliminating the cancer pretty quickly.
“I can comfortably and happily say I’ve been in remission for 17-odd years now.”
France’s visit to New Zealand will mark the first year of Scott Robertson’s tenure as All Blacks coach.
His maiden 12 months at the helm included a Test Series win over England and a victory in Ireland but also two defeats in South Africa and a loss in Paris to a dazzling Les Bleus.
“His first season was a little bit up and down and he’d probably say that as well but it’s hard to judge it just off one year,” Cruden added.
“It’s a great challenge to have France coming over here first up for a three-Test Series. By the end of this Test year, you’ll get a real indication of the growth and possibly what the All Blacks team is going to be for the next few years leading into that World Cup in Australia.” AFP
