New Zealand hold off France in Nations Championship opener
New Zealand edged France 34-32 in their Nations Championship Round 1 meeting at One New Zealand Stadium, surviving a late French surge to open their campaign with a win. It was the sort of contest the fixture promised: end to end, high on skill, and decided by a single score.
France will not travel home too downcast. They picked up two bonus points from the defeat, which keeps them in touch at the top of the table despite the loss. New Zealand, though, take the four points that matter most.
A frantic start
France could hardly have begun better. Inside the first minute Damian Penaud crossed, and with Ruben Love in the sin bin from the opening exchanges, the hosts were on the back foot early. Maxime Lucu converted and later added two penalties to keep France in front through the first quarter.
New Zealand steadied through Will Jordan, who finished in the seventh minute for the first of his two tries, before flanker Peter Lakai powered over on 20 minutes to level things up. The lead changed hands more than once, and it stayed tight, France holding a 13-12 edge before Cam Roigard struck right on the stroke of half-time. His try, converted by Love, sent New Zealand in 19-13 ahead.
Roigard the difference after the break
The scrum-half was central to how the match swung. France came again immediately after the restart, Antoine Hastoy scoring on 46 minutes to nudge the visitors back in front at 19-18, Lucu converting. But Roigard responded almost at once, crossing for his second on 49 minutes. Love's conversion and later penalty pushed the hosts to 26-20, then 29-25.
Roigard's numbers underline his influence: two tries, 49 metres, six defenders beaten and two clean breaks from scrum-half. He was New Zealand's most dangerous runner from the base, and both his scores came at moments when France had built momentum.
Love finished with nine points from the tee and the boot was not his only contribution, adding 50 metres and five defenders beaten, though the early yellow card was a blemish on an otherwise busy afternoon.
France keep coming
The visitors would not go away. Theo Attissogbe scored on 58 minutes to bring France within a point at 26-25, and after Love's penalty the game entered its closing stretch with New Zealand only just clear. Jordan's second try on 70 minutes, following Love's earlier work, looked to have settled matters at 34-25.
It did not. Matthieu Jalibert finished in the 77th minute and Hastoy, on from the bench, converted his own contribution to the cause to make it 34-32. France had the platform for one more push but could not find the final score.
Plenty for France to build on
For a side that lost, France had a lot to like. Their carrying threat was consistent across the game, and the numbers point to a side that troubled New Zealand for long spells: 147 carries to 134, and 12 clean breaks to the hosts' 10.
Individually, several stood out:
- Fabien Brau-Boirie was outstanding in midfield, making 86 metres from 11 carries with two clean breaks and three offloads before going off on 68 minutes.
- Matthieu Jalibert ran for 67 metres, beat four defenders and threw three offloads, giving France constant go-forward from fly-half.
- Antoine Hastoy made an impact off the bench with a try, a conversion and 43 metres from 12 carries.
- Yoram Moefana did the hard defensive yards with 19 tackles, while Marko Gazzotti added 17 alongside 12 carries.
The concern for France will be discipline and their exit game. They conceded nine penalties, and tighthead Demba Bamba gave away four before being replaced at half-time. When the margins are this fine, that is where matches slip away.
Where the match was decided
The set-piece stayed largely even. New Zealand won all five of their scrums and took nine of eleven lineouts; France managed five from six at the scrum and eight from ten at the lineout. Neither pack dominated.
Instead it came down to the ability to answer pressure. Every time France drew level or edged in front, New Zealand found a score, and Roigard was the man who provided two of them at the most important moments. Ardie Savea led the home carry count with 12 for 40 metres and chipped in 16 tackles, while Sam Darry and Luke Jacobson each made 21 tackles in a heavy defensive shift.
What it means
New Zealand sit level on points with the round's other winners but start their Nations Championship with the result they wanted against quality opposition. France, fourth after Round 1, take two bonus points from a match that could easily have gone their way.
On this evidence, both sides will feel they belong in the mix. The scoreline flattered nobody and reflected a contest that ran to the final minutes.