NEW ZEALAND v FRANCE: New Zealand 22 France 27:BEING OUTMUSCLED at the breakdown and a slow start cost New Zealand any chance of victory in their Test against France in Dunedin, All Blacks captain Mils Muliaina said on Saturday.
France’s Maxime Medard scored a late intercept try to help the visitors to a 27-22 victory, just their fourth win in 21 Tests against the All Blacks on New Zealand soil. But a late try from Ma’a Nonu, following a first-half effort from Liam Messam, ensured a tense finish.
The win was based on an outstanding defensive effort, with France making 152 tackles to the All Blacks’ 83, while their commitment at the breakdown slowed down New Zealand’s ball.
“We got outmuscled in that first half an hour of the game,” said Muliaina. “We missed crucial tackles and put ourselves under pressure.”
Assistant All Blacks coach Wayne Smith said the way the French had contested the breakdown affected the way his backline was able to function. “The French defence was really strong. They were able to slow our ball down with only two in there and that gave them an advantage in their defensive line off the rucks,” he said. We didn’t get over the gain line and it made the game difficult.
Despite the slow start, when France eased into a 17-3 lead courtesy of first-half tries to Francois Trinh-Duc and William Servat, Muliaina was impressed with the way the team had responded.
“We started to play a bit of catch-up football, but saying that I thought the guys came back well,” he added. “You don’t want to use it as an excuse but we’re a relatively young side and the way they came back from 17-3 down showed a bit of ticker there. Unfortunately we didn’t quite get there in the end.”
All Blacks coach Graham Henry felt the team had put themselves under a lot of pressure in the opening 30 minutes and had responded well. “I don’t think there was any lack of effort,” said Henry. “We turned over a bit of ball early and did not defend as well as we should.”
The early points came from the boots of Julien Dupuy and Stephen Donald who exchanged penalties before French fly-half Trinh-Duc went over for the game’s first try, converted by half-back partner en Dupuy. Trinh-Duc fired a drop-goal attempt well wide in the 26th minute, but two minutes later hooker Servat burrowed his way over. Dupuy added the conversion.
Donald narrowed the deficit to 17-6 with his second penalty and soon afterwards Messam dived over in the corner for his first international try, after being fed a pass by Cory Jane.
Two more Donald penalties locked the scores up at 17-17 midway through the second half.
Dupuy missed a penalty when Neemia Tialata was penalised for taking down the scrum, but then found his range to edge the French ahead again before Medard’s 60-metre race to dive under the posts effectively sealed the famous victory,
NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina, Rokocoko, Toeava, Nonu, Jane, Donald, Cowan, Woodcock, Hore, Tialata, Thorn, Ross, Read, Thomson, Messam. Replacements: McAlister for Toeava (59), Weepu for Cowan (50), Mealamu for Hore (19), Afoa for Tialata (62), Evans for Ross (71), Latimer for Thomson (62). Not used: Masaga.
FRANCE: Medard, Heymans, Bastareaud, Traille, Clerc, Trinh-Duc, Dupuy, Barcella, Servat, Marconnet, Pape, Millo-Chluski, Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Picamoles. Replacements: Yachvili for Dupuy (73), Szarzewski for Servat (50), Chabal for Pape (52). Not used: Domingo, Martin, Jauzion, Palisson.
Referee: George Clancy (Ire)
