All Blacks lose to France

New Zealand 22 France 27

BY MARC HINTON IN DUNEDIN

Tres magnifique. For the second time in as many matches the All Blacks have been badly exposed by a French side mixing withering defence with counter-attacking brilliance.

Marc Lievremont's French team last night drew first blood in this two-test Iveco series matchup, scoring three tries to two and securing another of these famous victories over the men in black that they seem to specialise in.

It was the fourth French victory in New Zealand (though their first since 1994) and following on from that famous Cardiff World Cup quarterfinal upset of a couple of years ago, their second on the trot against the All Blacks. It might not be a stranglehold, but certainly enough of a trend to be a major concern.

It was the most points the French have ever scored in this country, but there was no doubt that Les Bleus can put this wonderful win down to their fabulous defence. They were quick off the mark, hit hard and with intent and unsettled the All Blacks all night as they never found an answer to the aggression of the visitors.

The All Blacks' inexperience was also badly exposed. As ever they were rusty in their opening hitout of the campaign, but they made numerous errors and never showed the composure needed to withstand the sort of assault the French dished up.

We suspected there might be a fair degree of difficulty to this opening international of the new season, what with nine frontliners marked absent and so much inexperience littered throughout this New Zealand lineup – and so it proved.

Too many mistakes, too much misjudgment and just not enough steadiness under the pump. The French had all the urgency, too and were worthy victors, even if they did have to soak up a fair amount of pressure in the second spell.

"We have to congratulate the French. They played exceptionally well," said a gracious All Blacks coach Graham Henry afterwards amid speculation he was about to be reappointed through until the next World Cup.

"They were more physical than us in the early parts and after 30 minutes it didn't look too good. I thought their defence was excellent as well. I'm pleased with the way our guys came back from 17-3 after 30minutes.

"There were big question marks over our ability to play the game. But I thought the boys showed a lot of character to make a good game of it. That intercept killed us but we were the second best side out there today and didn't deserve to win."

It was a scratchy old first half from the All Blacks who were most fortunate to end it down just six points, trailing 11-17.

France made much of the play through the opening stanza, the tourists hitting the rusty Babyish Blacks with the old one-two punch to spring out to a 17-3 lead inside the first half-hour.

At that stage there were ominous overtones for Graham Henry's injury-depleted side who, really, were not in this match. They were being slaughtered at the breakdown – four times in that first half-hour the French turned over promising attacking ball with superior technique at the tackle – were losing the territory game badly and were being punished for their all-too-frequent errors.

France's opening try, in the 18th minute, came after Liam Messam and Ma'a Nonu had misfired on what should have been a straightforward pass and reception; the French sweeping left off the scrum, strong-running five-eighth Francois Trinh-Duc badly exposing some weak tackle attempts from Kieran Read, Mils Muliaina and Messam for a 10-3 lead.

That advantage grew by seven 10 minutes later when another judgment error from Messam enabled his opposite number, Louis Picamoles, to spark a counter-attack that saw Damien Traille and Maxime Mesnard going close in the left corner, and hooker William Servart eventually driving over.

But what is it they say about those crucial minutes either side of halftime?

And the All Blacks grabbed a lifeline in the final minute when from the kickoff reception following Stephen Donald's second penalty, Messam atoned for a loose first half by showing excellent speed to get up and finish off a break by Cory Jane.

It came from nothing really, with Cowan, perhaps sensing something was on, putting through a grubber and when Jane got the perfect bounce he was away, the stand-in wing showing good composure to draw the final defender and put his No 8 in.

The New Zealanders started the second half with a heap more aggression, suddenly discovering the urgency at the breakdown and when Donald banged over two straight penalties through the third quarter they had run off 14 straight points to level at 17-17.

Cue a thrilling last quarter. A Dupuy penalty regained the lead for the French with a  quarter of an hour to go and then on the 70-minute mark came the decisive moment.

The All Blacks, who had struggled all game with the fast and flat French defensive line, were moving ball through hand and replacement midfielder Luke McAlister flipped a pass straight to French fullback Medard who raced 50m for the score to put his team out to 27-17.

Ma'a Nonu wriggled over for a try five minutes from time, after Muliaina and McAlister had gone close, to put the New Zealanders back within striking distance. But there was to be no magic finish for an All Blacks outfit deservedly beaten on the track.

It was a disappointing debut for lock Isaac Ross, with his watching All Black dad Jock in the stands, but really the All Black pack was outplayed in the arm-wrestle up front. Donald had a solid match in the pivot, but outside him there was little cut and thrust to the back play as well.

The French forwards muscled up splendidly and their defence was inspirational, which will have surprised no one who watched them in Cardiff a couple of years ago. They have some useful runners in the backs too, with Traille and Medard the pick on a busy night.

There is clearly now a mountain of work for Graham Henry's men and just seven days in which to find some answers.
 
New Zealand 22 (Liam Messam, Ma’a Nonu tries; Stephen Donald 4 pens), France 27 (Francois Trinh-Duc, William Servat, Maxime Medard tries; Julien Dupuy 2 pen 3 cons). Ht: 11-17.

MATCH STATS

Possession NZ 57 Fr 43
Territory NZ 56 Fr 44
Lineouts won NZ 13 Fr 9
Lineouts lost NZ 1 Fr 3
Scrums won NZ 3 Fr 6
Rucks & mauls NZ 101 Fr 44
Hitups NZ 84 Fr 30
Linebreaks NZ 3 Fr 5
Tackles made NZ 83 Fr 152
Tackles missed NZ 17 Fr 13
Turovers conceded NZ 23 Fr 17
Errors NZ 11 Fr 7
Penalties conceded NZ 7 Fr 11

- © Fairfax NZ News