Player ratings: Too classy
In the end they outscored the French by three tries to one in a hard-fought 24-19 win in Paris on Saturday.
As always, the Al Blacks scored when it mattered and always seemed to have enough in the tank.
Jan de Koning rates the New Zealand players!
15 Israel Dagg:
Gave away a penalty and missed a tackle, but otherwise he was in fine fettle.
6/10
14 Waisake Naholo:
Decidedly unimpressive and lacklustre.
5/10
13 Anton Lienert-Brown:
Made all his tackles, but was ineffective with ball in hand and conceded two penalties.
5/10
12 Ryan Crotty:
Was steady rather than spectacular, with just one penalty conceded.
6/10
11 Julian Savea:
A real mixed bag - plenty of powerful runs, missed tackles and turnovers.
6/10
10 Beauden Barrett:
His intercept try is what ultimately won the match. The rest if his game was not too shabby either.
8/10
9 TJ Perenara:
His quicksilver service and the ability to read the game was invaluable.
7/10
8 Kieran Read:
It is extraordinary to see him miss three tackles in one game.
6/10
7 Matt Todd:
Certainly putting his hand up for a more permanent place in the All Black starting XV.
7/10
6 Jerome Kaino:
Physical and uncompromising, but also missed more tackles than what you have come to expect of him.
6/10
5 Sam Whitelock:
Great workrate, but too many slipped tackles.
6/10
4 Brodie Retallick:
Imposed himself on the French forwards and made few mistakes.
7/10
3 Owen Franks:
Struggled in the scrums, slipped a few tackles and had a poor workrate.
4/10
2 Dane Coles:
His basics is great, his skill sublime and his workrate exceptional.
7/10
1 Joe Moody:
Worked hard on defence, but struggled in the set pieces and conceded a couple of penalties.
5/10
Replacements:
16 Codie Taylor (in for Coles, 63rd min)
Just not in Coles' class.
5/10
17 Wyatt Crockett (in for Moody, 45th min)
A shocking workrate and conceded a couple of penalties.
4/10
18 Charlie Faumuina (on for Franks, 48th min)
He was quiet and struggled in the scrums.
5/10
19 Scott Barrett (on for Retallick, 44th min)
He comes from good rugby stick and his class is obvious.
6/10
20 Ardie Savea (on for Todd, 58th min)
A very busy and energetic player, but sometimes give the impression of a headless chicken.
6/10
21 Aaron Smith (on for Perenara, 60th min)
His game is well below par.
5/10
22 Aaron Cruden (in for Dagg, 57th min)
Did the basics well - steady, rather than spectacular.
6/10
23 Rieko Ioane (on for Crotty, 44th min)
Very impressive with ball in hand, but his defence let him down on occasion.
6/10
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