If they played the World Cup right now, New Zealand would surely be untouchable. The trick for their coach Graham Henry over the next 10 months is to be vigilant in maintaining the black potency of the squad that cantered to victory in Paris.

Twenty years have passed since Grant Fox lifted the inaugural World Cup and New Zealanders have grown impatient from watching two generations of All Blacks teams flatter to deceive. Henry's administration has brought together a remarkably rich vintage of players who have already been declared as the chosen ones.

"Aw, we would accept that," Henry agreed in his broad Kiwi drawl when he sat down close to midnight on Saturday night, rain sheeting across northern Paris and French passions thoroughly dampened.

"And it is a good place to be," he clarified. "We have spoken about this as a team and we have to keep dissecting and working. And we will continue to take each game as it comes. We are delighted with this. The French were very confrontational up front. They defended well and they will be pleased. We weren't quite as good but it is a reasonable margin and a victory in Paris is always special."

A victory in Wales next Saturday will leave Henry with a perfect record on this tour. Although he is guarded and cagey by nature, Henry has not been slow about acknowledging the current superiority of his squad and even cracked a smile when he was asked if the French, having lost the first Test between the countries by a cricket score, should take encouragement from this centennial anniversary match as they merely lost 23-11.

"In the year 3000, it will be a draw," he guffawed. "No, look, the game in 1906 was, I am sure, a great occasion. Wasn't there myself. And Dave Gallaher, the All Blacks captain that day, holds a very special place in our team. He was a remarkable man, killed in World War One here and we are very pleased to be taking his trophy home. And we went out to play open, free-flowing rugby here. It was tough but I am sure people appreciate it was a quality Test match."

For a management that had just lost, the French were positively beaming when they sat down to face the music. Nothing had changed. France had lost again and the visitors reconfirmed their all-round superiority over the best of the rest.

"The All Blacks are currently above and beyond all teams," was the terse comment from manager Jo Maso, who is as succinct as coach Bernard Laporte is elaborate. Squinting through circular, rimless glasses, the solemn, tailored architect of France's bid to claim a World Cup on home soil could at least point to some encouraging signs. "The players put their hearts into the game," said Laporte. "And we played at a high level, actively defending, and our strategy and organisation was more intelligent. We didn't have enough patience or speed. And New Zealand are so good at handling the ball - although they did commit some errors as well.

"We said we needed to play the ball provided it was good. But if the ball was bad, then we should not play it because we would leave ourselves open to mistakes, counter-attacks and penalties. But while we are disappointed with the result, it was an improvement and I think it is the truth."

It clarifies the task at hand for Laporte and France. They have 10 months to make radical progression if they are to live up to their billing as the country most likely to fell the mighty All Blacks. Asked if he thought France could hope to do that on the evidence of the past week, Laporte's naturally-worried demeanour broke into a rarely seen smile. "Well," he said. "Wait and see."