The Black Ferns seized control in the last minute of a back-and-forth first half. The Black Ferns fumbled while on attack inside the French 22. Tighthead prop Assia Khalfaoui attempted to kick for touch with a dire outcome.
Ayesha Leti-I'iga fielded the wobbler and charged ahead with three French defenders dangling off her. France conceded a penalty and from a scrum first five-eighth Hannah King quickly delivered to Ruahei Demant. Fullback Mererangi Paul injected herself with venom into the line and attracted two defenders leaving Katelyn Vahaakolo unmarked.
It was a polished training ground move executed faultlessly that flustered France. After halftime, New Zealand scored three tries in an imperious 17 minutes to settle the outcome.
In the 44th minute, a lineout maneuver unlocked the French. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u shifted swiftly to Demant who fired inside to Vahaakolo who completed her second international hat-trick. Vahaakolo has 19 tries in 14 Tests and had scored at least a single try in 11 consecutive internationals until the loss to England last week.
Powerful prop Tanya Kalounivale only has two tries in her 17 internationals, but will take great delight from her smash over in the 57th minute. Alongside Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu and Kennedy Tukuafu, Kalounivale was the pick of a motivated Black Ferns bench.
The Black Ferns scored the first try in all three WXV 1 matches with France taking eight minutes to concede. A free kick at a scrum saw Kaipo Olsen-Baker tap and head right where Leti-I'iga powered over for her 15th international try.
The pace was unrelenting and this time a quick tap by lock Maia Roos caught the French napping. Five passes released Vahaakolo.
New Zealand invited France back into contention in the 16th minute. A sloppy exit followed by a five-metre scrum saw Emeline Gros head left, then, whip right sharply and muscle over for her 12th Test try.
Lock Alana Bremner (14 carries, nine tackles) was a workhorse, instrumental in managing a spotless Black Ferns (15/15) lineout. The Canterbury captain was rewarded for her industry in the 21st minute with a try after ten phases and a delightful offload from loosehead prop Kate Henwood. A kick from 22 to 22 by Hannah King had forced an error from French fullback Chloé Jacquet.
Unfortunately, King dispatched a goal-line dropout on the full in the 26th minute. From a subsequent scrum classy French eight Romane Ménager took out two defenders. A quick recycle saw lock Manae Feleu (20 tackles) crash over.
Ménager was becoming increasingly ominous and a 30m break forced Vahaakolo to become a try-saver with a superb retreating tackle.
Black Ferns hooker Georgia Ponsonby was named player of the match. Besides the lineout, Ponsonby made 11 carries, nine tackles and snatched a turnover. Olsen-Baker capped a fine WXV I campaign with another damaging display and Vahaakolo and Leti-I'iga are world-class.
France conceded 16 penalties to eight and was forced to make 193 tackles (36 misses) compared with the Black Ferns 102.
The Black Ferns achieved their biggest win against France since a 14-0 whitewash in 2018.
Co-Captain Ruahei Demant: “We had a good balance with our ran game and our kick game. We played for the obvious spaces and tackled with heart.”
Black Ferns: 39 Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Katelyn Vahaakolo 3, Alana Bremner, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Tanya Kalounivale; Hannah King 2 cons) France: 14 Emeline Gros, Manae Feleu tries; Lina Queyroi con) HT: 20-14