All Blacks V France: 2nd test match report and review

*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of the NZRU or allblacks.com

Keven Mealamu - Getty Images

Perhaps it is the sight of black garbed men opposite them, but if Les Bleus committed these sorts of performances every test match, they would be a mighty world power.

But, it is the lack of consistency that is the marque de fabrique of the Tri colours.

This series could be the critical moment for Coach Marc Lievremont. It is the two best performances his team have strung together under his watch, and not only has this series proven that in 2011 France will mark a considerable assault on the World Cup, but will have other Northern Hemisphere nations on notice.

France on this series must be favourites for the 2010 Six Nations.

While the world’s collective glance may be towards South Africa in the Lions series, these classical test matches have defined international rugby competition at its premium.

A battle of attrition was to be expected, but in poor conditions, with constant rain and a clear southerly chill, the lack of benevolence from the weather would ensure a much fiercer contest.

As expected, a wounded All Black team lifted their performance to the demanded level required as befitting their proud history and lofty public requirements.

In the first half, All Black ball retention was superb. It is difficult to say whether it was the inclusion of a specialist open side, or just a better display all round in the loose, but the contest for the ball and the retention of possession would have done the master Richie McCaw proud.

New Zealand turned over French ball four times in the first half, and conceded no ball themselves.

But as the All Blacks looked a far superior side to the team that lost 22-27 in Carisbrook last week, the French backed up their heroics from their first test win. There was so much heat and focus on the All Blacks in the second test build up, that it was lost whether or not Les Bleus could back up.

France is not a sequential team, as shown in their history of Southern tours.

With the exception of their 36-26 triumph over the Springboks in Cape Town in 2006, this is so far their best tour since the French of the early nineties.

That side from mid 1990 through to 1996 only lost one Southern test match, beating the Wallabies, Springboks, All Blacks twice, and the Puma’s on four occasions.

Since then they have won only seven of 27 matches.

Why would you not want to send a full strength team to the most taxing battlegrounds of world rugby, we ask the North?

One hopes, for the sake of early season All Black and Wallaby comparisons, that the same intense Les Bleus arrive at Stadium Australia. If they do, Robbie Deans convalescing Australian test team will receive a concentrated exam on their new abilities.

The All Blacks went into half time 8-0 ahead, courtesy of a well built try from Ma’a Nonu.

One felt they could have been further ahead, but these were conditions where the scores were only built by a moment of brilliance.

Unfortunately for the All Blacks, that genius would occur after the break.

New Zealand went into half time clearly ecstatic, with Coach Graham Henry still demanding more from his troops. Despite the impressive performance, he knew the job was not done.

“We’ve just got to keep going forward,” he said.

“A bit of patience, but execution and executing going forward is the key”

The required patience seemed to temporarily desert the home team; with a magical try from Cedric Heymans bringing the French back into the match, and in one move of sorcery, undid almost all of the hard work that the All Blacks had done for 40 minutes prior.

The Toulouse veteran danced his way down the touchline, and despite the cover defence of Mils Muliaina, Jimmy Cowan and Joe Rokocoko, he scored in the corner, easily the try of the midyear internationals so far.

The All Blacks came back into the match though, but despite the improved performance, there were still struggles in their tactical control of the match.

While Stephen Donald had a stellar season with the Chiefs, he is still learning his craft as a test level player.

One wonders, is the lack of occassional polish in his game only so apparent for the stunning heights that Dan Carter had set before him?

As the match wore on, the close score line belied the supremacy of the All Blacks team, much as the reverse had applied in Carisbrook for the French.

Tanerau Latimer had a brilliant game at open side, with the balance of the All Black loose forward trio looking more apparent.

In all, it was the 80 minute performance of all involved in the crucial tackle and ruck area. The tight five had a stunningly improved game, led by hooker Keven Mealamu. Equally Jimmy Cowan had a strong game, but for the second straight match, the All Blacks game looked far more commanding with Piri Weepu on the field.

The backs had a much improved performance, and even though Donald struggled at times with his kicking, the impact of the Hurricanes midfield of Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu was almost game breaking. Not only with ball in hand, but on the central channel where many of the All Blacks high balls eventuated.

For France, to be fair, to finish within 4 points when they never really looked in a position to imply their game plan on the All Blacks was a magnificent performance.

By virtue of this, they won the Dave Gallaher Cup for the first time since its inception in 2000.

Man of the match: It was a vastly improved performance from the All Blacks across the board, who realistically dominated the entire match, as Les Bleus did last week. Mils Muliaina had a composed game at the back, and Ma’a Nonu had a terrific performance in the midfield.

But on a game where progress was measured in inches, the performance in the loose by Keven Mealamu was immense. With bandages and blood prominent throughout the match, the pocket battleship Blues captain had a fantastic match.

Scoring Play-by-play:

First half

2nd minute: French incorrect entry, Penalty missed by Donald
6th minute: Drop goal attempt, missed by Traille
16th minute: French player off his feet, Penalty missed by Donald
26th minute: Nonu 12th test try (4th V France), scored left out wide after being fed by Rokocoko
NZL 5-0 FRA
27th minute: Conversion attempt, missed by Donald
28th minute: Try referred after Cory Jane crossed the line, ruled to have been held up
31st minute: All Blacks player incorrect entry, Penalty missed by Dupuy
35th minute: All Blacks player off his feet, Penalty missed by Dupuy
38th minute: French playing the ball on the deck, Penalty kicked by Donald
NZL 8 – 0 FRA

Second half

41st minute: All Blacks penalised at the scrum, Penalty missed by Dupuy
44th minute: Cedric Heyman try, scored down the left and the All Blacks missing four tackles
NZL 8 – 5 FRA
45th minute: Try converted by Dupuy
NZL 8 – 7 FRA
56th minute: French throwing the ball away, Penalty kicked by Donald
NZL 11 – 7 FRA
58th minute: All Blacks off their feet, Penalty missed by Yachvili (subbed for Dupuy)
65th minute: French off their feet, general warning, Penalty kicked by McAlister (subbed for Donald)
NZL 14 - 7 FRA
66th minute: All Blacks offside, Penalty kicked by Yachvili
NZL 14 – 10 FRA

Team sheet and substitutions

New Zealand ALL BLACKS

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Cory Jane
13. Conrad Smith 66th minute
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Josevata Rokocoko
10. Stephen Donald 61st minute
9. Jimmy Cowan 57th minute
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Keven Mealamu
3. Neemia Tialata 57th minute
4. Brad Thorn
5. Isaac Ross 65th minute
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Tanerau Latimer
8. Kieran Read

RESERVES
19. George Whitelock
17. John Afoa 57 for Tialata
21. Luke McAllister 61 for Donald
16. Aled de Malmanche
18. Bryn Evans 65 for Ross
20. Piri Weepu 57 for Cowan
22. Isaia Toeava 66 for Smith

France

15. Maxime Medard
14. Vincent Clerc
13. Maxime Mermoz
12. Damien Traille
11. Cedric Heymans
10. Francois Trinh-Duc
9. Julien Dupuy 58th minute
1. Fabien Barcella 40th minute
2. William Servat 40th minute
3. Nicolas Mas
4. Sebastien Chabal 58th minute
5. Romain Millo-Chulski
6. Thierry Dusautoir
7. Fulgence Ouedraogo
8. Louis Picamoles 40th minute

RESERVES
19. Damien Chouly 40 for Picamoles
17. Thomas Domingo 40 for Barcella
21. Yannick Jauzion
16. Dimitri Szarzewski 40 for Servat
18. Remy Martin 58 for Chabel
20. Dimitri Yachvili 58 for Dupuy
22. Mathieu Bastareaud