Players ratings: Close, but no cigar

France, as they often do, threatened to upset New Zealand. In the end they lost 19-26. It was thrilling and entertaining.


Mistakes probably cost the French most - missed kicks at goal and some sloppy handling.


But they certainly made the All Blacks work for the win in Paris.


Jan de Koning rates the French players:


15 Brice Dulin:

The stats will suggest he made plenty of metres, 70 in total, but he was steady rather than spectacular.

5/10


14 Yoann Huget:

Easily shrugged of Charles Piutau and missed just one tackle of his own.

6/10


13 Florian Fritz:

Big tackle on Israel Dagg early in the game and made a few other big hits. Missed just one tackle.

6/10


12 Wesley Fofana:

Found holes in the usually solid Kiwi defence, beat defenders and made all his tackles.

7/10


11 Maxime Medard:

Did well to tackle Cory Jane into touch in the first minute and had a few decent runs, but slipped a crucial; tackle.

6/10


10 Remi Tales:

Made his tackles, but some of his kicks left a little to be desired.

5/10


9 Morgan Parra:

Missed kicks at goal, missed tackles and his service was below par.

4/10


8 Damien Chouly:

Other than his line-out work and a few good tackles, his influence on the game was not always obvious.

6/10


7 Wenceslas Lauret:

Some good carries, made plenty of metres and made all his tackles.

7/10


6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain):

He imposed himself on the game at the breakdown, although his workrate on defence could have been higher.

6/10


5 Yoann Maestri:

Won a couple of line-outs and made a handful of tackles, but also disappeared at time.

5/10


4 Pascal Pape:

Had some really big carries and made all his tackles, but he should have (could have) been used more in the line-outs.

6/10


3 Nicolas Mas:

Was blown for 'bailing out' in a scrum, but otherwise had a solid set piece game. Also missed a tackle.

6/10


2 Benjamin Kayser:

Very poor workrate and you only saw him occasionally.

4/10


1 Yannick Forestier:

Penalised in a first-half scrum, but generally had the better of Owen Franks. Could have worked harder on defence.

6/10


Replacements:


16 Dimitri Szarzewski (on for Kayser, 52nd minute):

He enjoys carrying the ball and made all his tackles.

6/10


17 Vincent Debaty (on for Forestier, 60th min):

No impact on the game.

4/10


18 Rabah Slimani (on for Mas, 56th min):

No impact on the game.

4/10


19 Sebastien Vahaamahina (on for Maestri, 56th min):

Made a couple of tackles and won a line-out, but nothing spectacular.

5/10


20 Antonie Claassen (on for Lauret, 73rd min):

Not enough time to be rated.


21 Jean-Marc Doussain (on for Parra, 76th min):

Not enough time to be rated.


22 Camille Lopez:

Not used.


 23 Gael Fickou (on for Fritz, 76th min):

 Not enough time to be rated.