Howlett scored a try in the 20th minute after Carter burst into a yawning gap on a brilliant switch pass from Spencer and linked with Muliaina, who gave the last pass for the flying winger with a clear 30m run to the line.
While All Blacks coach John Mitchell made one change -- Australian-born Devine in for injured scrumhalf Justin Marshall -- his French counterpart Bernard Laporte made 13 changes to his starting 15. Flyhalf Gerald Merceron was elevated to the starting 15 at the expense of Frederic Michalak, but the pair traded places again in the 65th minute.
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