New Zealand produced a vastly improved performance from their first Test loss to beat France 14-10 in atrocious conditions at the Westpac Stadium yesterday.
Ma’a Nonu scored a try as the All Blacks won the second Test to level the series, but France secured the Dave Gallaher Cup for the first time since it was introduced in 2000 by virtue of their five-point win in Dunedin last week.
The visitors had been looking to become the first French side since 1994 to win a series against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“It’s the first time France has won the trophy,” France captain Thierry Dusautoir said. “I think it takes a lot of pride having won the trophy. It’s a very young team and they can be very proud of what they achieved.”
Flyhalf Stephen Donald (two) and Luke McAlister slotted penalties for the All Blacks.
Cedric Heymans scored a brilliant individual try down the left wing, beating four defenders after getting the ball in open space from 40m out for France.
PHOTO: AFP
Julien Dupuy added the conversion, while Dimitri Yachvili slotted a penalty for the visitors.
Both sides failed to execute basic skills, with too many handling errors and a seeming inability to take the high kicks both teams used when they had a swirling southerly at their backs.
“It was just hell of a difficult to play rugby in those conditions,” All Blacks coach Graham Henry said.
PHOTO: AFP
“You have to acknowledge that. It was very difficult to catch the ball floating around in the stadium in those conditions,” he said.
New Zealand, outplayed in a 27-22 loss at Carisbrook last week, produced a better performance at the breakdown and in contact, though France demolished the All Blacks front row in the early exchanges.
Nonu’s 26th-minute try was created off New Zealand’s first stable scrum of the game, which allowed the loose forwards to make ground and after several phases, Joe Rokocoko was given space on the left and he then held the ball up in the tackle for Nonu looping behind him.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The All Blacks were unlucky not to be awarded a second try three minutes later when Cory Jane went over in the corner, but the television official was unable to determine whether the winger had grounded the ball before being pushed out.
Donald landed his first penalty in the 40th minute to give the home side an 8-0 lead, but that was reduced shortly after the break when Heymans produced a scintillating run down the left wing, stepping past four defenders.
Dupuy added the conversion to bring the visitors back into the game.
France produced some desperate goal-line defense on two occasions to stop All Blacks scoring opportunities, though Donald was able to add his second penalty to take the score to 11-7.
Replacements Luke McAlister and Dimitri Yachvili then traded penalties to leave the score 14-10 with 10 minutes remaining.
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