France and New Zealand face each other at the Millennium Stadium in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals this weekend, one side feeling the pressure as favourites while the other is troubled by inner turmoil.
New Zealand is reigning champions and won their pool games unbeaten and, apart from the opening clash with Argentina, relatively untroubled. The All Blacks are still favourites to win the tournament and yet history tells us a meeting with Les Blues does not always go to plan. Two memorable comeback victories by France against New Zealand in 1999 and 2007 mean that even if the All Blacks take the lead, they should not take anything else for granted.
But in-fighting has left the France camp in disarray. Reports suggest players have launched a mutiny against coach Philippe Saint-André, after deciding the former wing is no longer fit to lead the team. Will Les Blues disintegrate in Cardiff, or will such events conjure up another ferocious fightback against the All Blacks?
In this video, IBTimes UK sports editor Nick Howson previews the match and gives his predictions on who will emerge victoriously. France vs New Zealand kicks off at 8 pm BST on Saturday 17 October. Live coverage is available on ITV HD and BBC Radio 5 Live.
