Player ratings: New Zealand
New Zealand's victory march came to an agonising end in Paris on Saturday, losing 29-30 to hosts Franced.
The All Blacks built a half-time lead of 17-10 after tries to Peter Lakai and Cam Roigard, before France equalled proceedings early in the second with a shift maul try.
Locked 17-all, France grabbed the momentum with a kick-break try to winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey after an offload went to ground. Both sides exchanged penalties with New Zealand never retaking the lead.
Stuck in front of their goalposts, New Zealand tried valiantly to go the length of the field, but France’s defence held strong for a one-point win.
Ben Smith rates the New Zealand players!
1. Tamaiti Williams – 4
Just not enough polish on Williams’ performance tonight. Was pinged for sealing off on an exit phase. Won New Zealand’s first breakdown penalty with a great steal. Broke open France up the middle but veered right with Roigard on the left. Had a half break with a line outside McKenzie but butchered the pass. Missed opportunities for the big man. Off at 62.
2. Codie Taylor – 6
The All Blacks own lineout functioned very well with 5/5 in the first half. On the first key maul defence Taylor produced a key strip defending the goal line. Defensively had a big motor as usual getting through seven in the first half. Penalised for access obstruction right after an All Blacks penalty goal in the second half. Off at 62.
3. Tyrel Lomax – 6
The scrum was a battle with back-and-forth penalties. Lost their first scrum with a penalty leading to France’s opening three points. Turned it around on the next with a penalty. All Blacks appeared to get dominance through the first half. Off at 62.
4. Scott Barrett – 6
Carries off No.9 for the captain with plenty of pullback passes. Finished with eight tackles and nine carries getting through his work. Pressured France’s lineout a couple of times but no steals.
5. Tupou Vaa’i – 6
A solid night from Vaa’i reduced by one bad play. Had the read on France’s lineout early. A steal early to start the night and another shortly after. Second half he threw an offload which gave France a counter-attacking opportunity they made the All Blacks pay with. Finished with nine tackles. Off at 55.
6. Samipeni Finau – N/A
Went off for an HIA in the first two minutes.
7. Ardie Savea – 6
Despite playing openside saw plenty of ball. Had 10 carries after 35 minutes. First run down the left side put flyhalf Ramos on his backside. His second in a similar spot beat three France defenders and found an offload for Lakai for the first try. Got pinged for sealing off, which was a problem for the All Blacks in the first half. Had a ruck steal and was promptly penalised for holding on as was isolated. A big load in attack but had a quiet second half. Finished with four tackles.
8. Wallace Sititi – 5
A tougher night for Wallace as he carried in close quarters and found going difficult. The French pack handled him well. His biggest play of the night came in the 69th minute with a big breakdown penalty, but then had an off throw from the top to Ratima.
[rp-mc-teams-match-summary id="3|941370|2024"][/rp-mc-teams-match-summary]
9. Cam Roigard – 8
Probably the most influential All Black of the night. Got Savea free down the left side early with a looping cutout pass. Played the blindside a lot to target France in the 15s. Pinched Dupont’s pocket from a France scrum and raced away for a well-taken solo intercept try. Sniped well and got his offload game going. Had eight carries by half-time. Subbed off for final half hour.
10. Beauden Barrett – 6.5
Played more of a distributor role off set-piece with Ardie Savea the anchor point of the launch plays. Kicked his first three at goal. Took a long range drop goal on half-time which missed. Got more direct the second half, challenged the line and ran more. Didn’t really put a foot wrong, France did well to contain.
11. Caleb Clarke – 7
A beautiful touch combining with Savea on New Zealand’s first try. Had some physical ball carries always taking in multiple defenders and cut back inside well away from the sideline. Often found himself one in from the left wing with Lienert-Brown outside oddly. Always looked dangerous and carried well.
12. Jordie Barrett – N/A
Took some punishment with ball in hand from France’s punishing defence. Huge touch finder on his first exit kick, winning 60 metres. Was solid on defence with some key spot tackles before going off after 36.
13. Rieko Ioane – 4
Overran the first launch play a touch leading to a dropped ball from Savea, but had a big work rate in the first half with nine carries and nine more in the second. Had big drop with three minutes remaining that nearly cost the game with France counter-attack coming up just short.
14. Sevu Reece – 7
Came up with a clutch intercept in the first half. Had some strong pick and goes and cleaned up well in the backfield. Didn’t put a foot wrong.
15. Will Jordan – 6
A mixed bag with good and bad. First touch had a turnover. On an early touch produced a brilliant round the corner offload for Tupou Vaa’i. Saved a try with a foot on Bielle-Biarrey’s second kick after Dupont found the space over the top. Ran back kicks with vigour every time. After a long build up in attack, went for an over the top ball to Clarke but it didn’t pay off. On the wing came up with a big intercept with France looking to score. Pushed a pass on a late All Blacks break that again didn’t come off. Let down in the passing game.
Replacements
16. Asafo Aumua – 4 – On at 62. Penalised for a cleanout that gave France a four-point lead. A few hard hits.
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi – 5 – On at 62. No scrums for the reserve front rowers. One tackle for Ofa as All Blacks had ball on attack.
18. Pasilio Tosi – 5 – On at 62. Two tackles for Tosi.
19. Patrick Tuipulotu – The All Blacks maul defence held strong with the bench forwards on, stopping France from scoring.
20. Peter Lakai – 7 – A big night for Lakai who was on very early after two minutes. Scored the opening try on a support line inside Savea. Tackled well. Was isolated on a key possession inside France’s 22 and lost possession. Had some strong carries as the game wore on, very powerful leg drive. Finished as the team’s top tackler.
21. Cortez Ratima – On at 52. Snatched a key breakdown penalty on halfway. Had a bad spill with a tough lineout off the top from Sititi.
22. Anton Lienert-Brown – Came on late in the first half for Jordie Barrett.
23. Damian McKenzie – On at 52. Immediately injected into the game with an impact from fullback and put Williams through a half gap. Saved the game scrambling and cleaning up a kick at the end.
@RugbyPass