All Blacks edge France in thrilling Nations Championship opener

New Zealand narrowly defeated France 34-32 in Christchurch to commence the inaugural Nations Championship, a captivating match that saw the All Blacks secure a bonus-point win despite a formidable challenge from a determined French side.

The high-scoring thriller, marked by nine tries in total, provided new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie with a winning start, though not without demonstrating areas for significant improvement in his squad.

Rennie's Optimistic Debut

Dave Rennie, who assumed coaching duties for the All Blacks in January, outlined a commitment to "optimistic" rugby, aiming to reduce kicking and empower players to attack dynamically his coaching philosophy. This approach was immediately evident in Christchurch, as New Zealand maintained a high tempo, achieving quick ball roughly 85% of the time, leading to five tries.

Despite the offensive output, Rennie acknowledged significant defensive lapses and accuracy issues. France, even without star players from top clubs Toulouse and Montpellier, matched the All Blacks' four tries, showcasing the formidable challenge they presented the French offensive power. Rennie emphasized the need for more time and repetitions to solidify combinations, admitting the team needs to apply more pressure defensively to slow down opposition ball and reset.

Rennie's predecessor was Scott Robertson, and the 62-year-old coach last served with Kobe in Japan. He expressed satisfaction with his team's effort and mindset but stressed the necessity for greater precision going forward.

France's Tenacious Stand

France, under coach Fabien Galthié, started with remarkable pace and precision, immediately putting New Zealand under pressure. Barely two minutes into the game, star winger Damian Penaud scored his 41st Test try, extending his national record Penaud's record-breaking try. This early score was immediately followed by a yellow card for All Blacks fly-half Ruben Love for a high tackle on Max Spring, compounding a difficult opening for New Zealand.

Despite missing key players like Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, France fielded a robust team that included fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and the prolific Penaud, ensuring a true contest France's strong lineup. French captain Ardie Savea noted the intensity of the French challenge: "The French were quality tonight, when we had the ball in our hands, we were dangerous." Savea also conceded that "France came to play and put us under pressure."

France's efforts were nearly rewarded with a rare victory on New Zealand soil. They had a second-half try disallowed due to a knock-on from Max Spring before Fabien Brau-Boirie touched down, which could have altered the outcome a disallowed Spring try. The French managed to win quick ball at the breakdown, effectively neutralizing the All Blacks' attempts to disrupt them, forcing the hosts into a scrambling defense.

Key Player Performances

Will Jordan was a standout performer for the All Blacks, scoring two crucial tries in the seventh and 71st minutes. His double moved him within two tries of Doug Howlett's all-time New Zealand record of 49 Jordan's pursuit of Howlett's record. Scrum-half Cam Roigard also contributed two tries, with flanker Peter Lakai adding another for New Zealand. Caleb Clarke of the All Blacks, who was preparing for a motivated Damian Penaud, acknowledged the French winger's drive following his recent Six Nations omission Clarke anticipating Penaud's motivation.

For France, Penaud's early try set the tone. Other French try-scorers included Antoine Hastoy, Theo Attissogbe, and Matthieu Jalibert. Maxime Lucu, serving as stand-in captain, contributed with two penalties Lucu penalties, briefly giving France a one-point lead in the first half.

The match also saw Ruben Love, in his first Test start at fly-half, receive a yellow card early in the game. Ardie Savea, the All Blacks’ captain, praised his team's resilience, stating he was proud of the boys for their effort and determination in a challenging Test match.

Context and What Comes Next

This inaugural Nations Championship fixture followed a previous tour where France, with a weakened squad, lost all three Tests against New Zealand by a combined 40 points France's previous tour results. The closeness of this match underscores a significant shift in France's competitive stance against the All Blacks, even without some of their top-tier talent.

New Zealand will next host Italy, while France travels to Australia for their subsequent Nations Championship fixtures. The performance in Christchurch established a high benchmark for the competition, promising further captivating encounters as the league progresses.