Dave Rennie\u2019s tenure as the All Blacks head coach started on a positive note as New Zealand beat France 34-32 in a thrilling Nations Championship Test match in Christchurch.<\/p>\n
When these two nations met 12 months ago, much of the conversation was dominated by the French sending a second-string team to Aotearoa for the Test series. This time around, Bordeaux\u2019s early exit from the Top 14 and relaxed restrictions on head coach Fabien Galthie meant that a far more competitive Les Bleus squad made the trip to New Zealand, and thankfully so, as we were treated to a belter of a Test match.<\/p>\n
With Antoine Dupont absent, it was the All Blacks\u2019 number nine that shone with Cam Roigard touching down either side of half-time for Rennie\u2019s charges, with Will Jordan scoring in both halves too.<\/p>\n
France<\/a> came charging out of the blocks with Damian Penaud scoring in the opening minute of the game on his return to the blue jersey. That sparked what proved to be a helter-skelter Test match<\/a> with Jordan responding on seven minutes. Peter Lakai and Roigard scored either side of Maxime Lucu penalties as the hosts took a 19-13 lead into the break.<\/p>\n Again, it was the visitors who started quickest in the second half with Antoine Hastoy crossing six minutes into the second stanza to take a one-point lead, but that was quickly cancelled out by Roigard.<\/p>\n Ruben Love\u2019s penalty and Jordan\u2019s try in the final quarter were enough to see the All Blacks<\/a> to a maiden victory under Rennie, despite Theo Attissogbe and Matthieu Jalibert\u2019s late scores making it a nervy finish.<\/p>\n Thrilling first half<\/p>\n Les Bleus were first to strike and did so from the very first lineout of the game. The French took the ball through several phases with Penaud linking up with Max Spring down the right-hand side. The Bordeaux star rounded off the attacking move soon after, running a fantastic loop and cantering through for his 41st international try for France.<\/p>\n After Lucu\u2019s conversion, the All Blacks were further punished as TMO Marius van der Westhuizen notified referee Luke Pearce of a possible foul play incident, and upon review, Ruben Love was yellow-carded for his dangerous tackle on Spring in the build-up to the try.<\/p>\n The All Blacks responded brilliantly, spending much of the yellow card period inside the French 22, and forced multiple penalties from the visitors. The last of which was taken quickly by captain Ardie Savea, who went inches short of scoring, but a phase later Damian McKenzie threw a wonderful skip pass out to Jordan, who acrobatically avoided the tackle of Attissogb\u00e9 as he touched down for his 46th career try.<\/p>\n Rennie\u2019s charges managed to shut the French out as Pearce confirmed that Love\u2019s yellow card would not be upgraded, with Love returning to the action shortly before Lucu dissected the posts from a penalty.<\/p>\n The All Blacks were next to strike, attacking from a scrum inside their own 22 with McKenzie slicing through the defence and up to the French 10m line before linking up with Roigard. Stunning hands from Quinn Tupaea two phases later freed Lakai and Caleb Clarke down the flank with the latter providing the final pass to the former who ran in for his second Test try. Love added the extras as the All Blacks ended the first quarter with their noses in front.<\/p>\n All Blacks player ratings: Cam Roigard \u2018absolutely incredible\u2019 as workhorse \u2018justifies\u2019 Dave Rennie\u2019s bold call<\/a><\/p>\n New Zealand\u2019s defence remained resolute thereafter, despite France\u2019s willingness to retain possession, going over 20 phases with the ball in hand before Lucu opted to take the three points on the stroke of 30 minutes.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n The hosts, trailing by one, spoiled a golden opportunity to hit back instantly after Love flexed his mesmerising footwork to tear through the defence, but a knock-on five metres from the line let the French off the hook. New Zealand looked to have got the score to go into the lead just before the break when Ethan de Groot lunged towards the line.<\/p>\n However, the prop \u2013 sporting a nasty gash on his face \u2013 was denied as he knocked the ball in contact. New Zealand were playing under advantage, and Savea pointed to the corner, a wise call as the All Blacks formed a maul before Roigard dummied and raced through for the five-pointer. Love\u2019s conversion from right in front gave the hosts a 19-13 lead at half-time.<\/p>\n