"Cortez Ratima vs Nolann Le Garrec" - 3 Key Battles: New Zealand vs France (3rd Test)

France have shown a level of fight and organisation that’s surprised many, especially given how heavily rotated their squad is. For New Zealand, it’s a chance to finish the series with a clean sweep, but they’ll know this young French side won’t roll over easily.

The second row will see two very exciting young talents going head-to-head. Netherlands-born Fabian Holland has took to Test rugby like a duck to water, with his first and only two games for the All Blacks coming in the other matches of this series. He has rose to the level and shown composure far beyond his years so far.

Frenchman Hugo Auradou has only made a handful of appearances for Les Bleus, unsurprising given that his 22nd birthday is a day after this game will be played. Son of former France and Stade Francais lock David Auradou, Hugo looks to be continuing the family tradition of being outstanding second rows.

Holland and Auradou represent two players who look set to go on to have long Test careers, with this series being the real beginning of it all.

This head-to-head is less about two exciting talents, and more about a young player being up against someone in the prime of their career. Sevu Reece has made over 30 appearances for the All Blacks and the 28-year-old seems to be reaching the peak of his powers.

Back following a first minute HIA in the first game, Reece will be keen to impress, especially given that neither of the wingers that played the second game particularly stepped up to the mark.

He will be up against French maverick Attissogbe, who unplayable in the first Test and one of the main reasons that France ended up only losing by four points. Although the Pau man played fullback on that occasion, he is more than adept on the wing given his talents with the ball in hand.

Still only 20 years old, the youngster is quickly moving his way up the France pecking order and would be a good back three replacement going forward. With Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and Thomas Ramos ahead of him in the three positions, putting in a performance against someone with the calibre of Reece could springboard him up to another level.

Ratima has big boots to fill after Cam Roigard put in a brillaint shift in the second Test, and there is a real battle between the two 24 year old's in terms of who is going to be the main man in the position going forward. Le Garrec unfortunately has Maxime Lucu and Antoine Dupont in front of him usually, so needs to take any chance he can get to prove himself.

The All Blacks have looked to use a box-kicking strategy early on in their two games so far against France, so Ratima will likely have an important role to play to start the game. Scrum-halves are usually the cornerstone of French attacks and Le Garrec will also get plenty of important touches for his team, such is the nature of the position.

These two both have points to prove and guiding their team to a positive result would do both a world of good in terms of boosting their selection hopes going forward.