"Jordie Barrett vs Gael Fickou" - 3 Key Battles to watch in All Blacks v France second Test

Fabien Galthie's side surprised many with their performance, given that it was mainly a B team that has travelled down to the southern hemisphere. Now that Les Bleus have shown that they are capable of putting in a shift and potentially coming up with a shock result, they will have plenty of confidence going into this game.

Lots of young and inexperienced France players stepped up to the plate against a strong All Blacks team and it is a case of showing that it can be a regular occurrence for some of the fringe players in the squad. Here are three key matchups to look out for on Saturday.

The upcoming clash between Will Jordan and Theo Attissogbe promises fireworks, especially with the prospect of both players lining up in the same position. In their last encounter, Jordan was shifted to the right wing early on following Sevu Reece's injury, a move that paid off as he finished with two tries and was consistently dangerous, also having a third ruled out.

His ability to read the game and appear at just the right moment was key to his strong performance. The Crusader has over 40 caps for his country, a long way ahead of Attissogbe's handful.

Attissogbe, however, stood out over the course of the whole game. With Thomas Ramos not playing, he seized his chance, running 80 metres in total, breaking the line cleanly on a few occasions, and beating four defenders with electric footwork. He combined flair with composure, showing he's more than ready for the big stage at his young age of 20.

If both start in the same position this time, fans could be treated to a head-to-head battle between two dynamic, elusive runners from deep. Given that Damian McKenzie came on as the fullback and Jordan went out wide, it could be the case that both play in slightly different positions again, albeit still in the back three.

This weekend could see another intriguing duel, this time between two of the most dependable figures on the park. Both players were standouts in their previous meeting, with Fickou's reliability coming up against Barrett's quality link-up play.

Les Bleus captain Fickou led from the front with a tireless defensive effort, racking up 14 tackles, two of them try-savers. A calming presence throughout, he helped steady his side in key moments and was instrumental in organising the defensive line. He also had a first-half try chalked off, having supported well in the build-up.

Barrett was just as influential, linking seamlessly into the All Blacks’ sweeping attack patterns. He scored a crucial try right on half-time, darting into the corner with precision.

It is often stated that getting the better of the captain means that you get the better of the team, and Barrett has the ability to do just that after a close encounter last week.

Mickael Guillard was one of France’s best in their last outing, relentless at the breakdown, strong in the carry, and responsible for France’s opening try. One of the only France players to have played in this year's Six Nations, he played with the confidence of a man who knew exactly what was required and delivered it under pressure.

Ardie Savea, meanwhile, had a quieter night by his standards. He led the All Blacks in carries and had a few strong moments, including a promising burst down the right, but his defensive lapse on the Cameron Woki try stood out. Knowing Savea’s standards and his outstanding Super Rugby season with Moana Pasifika, he’ll be hungry to bounce back.

Guillard will need to lift again to match that level. If Savea hits his usual form, especially with ball in hand, it could be a long game for the France's back row. Given that Savea started as a flanker and Guillard at No.8, this battle will only directly happen with a slight change in tactics from Scott Robertson.