Other Results

	5 Feb 2012
	Ireland	21	23	Wales	(17-22)
	4 Feb 2012
	Scotland	6	13	England	(9-17)
	France	30	12	Italy	(34-13)
	3 Dec 2011
	Wales	18	24	Australia	(17-25)
	19 Nov 2011
	Spain	16	13	Uruguay	(25-21)
	23 Oct 2011
	New Zealand	8	7	France	(36-13)
	21 Oct 2011
	Australia	21	18	Wales	(21-17)
	16 Oct 2011
	New Zealand	20	6	Australia	(36-21)

New Zealand v France - Auckland, June 2, 2007

Match Report

For the All Blacks this will be their first test of 2007, whilst the France have already won the Six Nations tournament this year. However the French lineup for this game is completely different from the lineup that played in the last test of the Six Nations when they took the European title. Due to the bizarre timing of this game - the French clubs are still playing the knockout sdtages of their domestic competition - France have not been able to send a ful strength team down under. But it's still a test match with both teams sure to play at full tilt.

The game starts with the All Blacks putting the French under pressure straight away with Rokocoko going close. The opening points however go to Carter with a penalty to give the All Blacks a 3 - 0 lead after six minutes.

The All Blacks get another scoring opportunity when the French infringe at the breakdown again. Due to an injury to Carter, Weepu steps up and makes a great touchline kick to make it six to nothing.

The French reply when they get their hands on the ball at last after the All Blacks are penalised for not rolling away. Boyet made no mistake to make it 6 - 3 after 12 minutes.

Despite constant pressure the All Blacks are unable to penetrate the French defence until Rokocoko makes a great break and Mauger eventually dots down for the first try of the game. Carter converts the score to make the scoreline 13 to 3 to the All Blacks with 12 minutes left in the half.

Sivivatu scores the next try after a deft little kick through by Carter. The TMO took an age to make a decision and the French may have felt hard done by as it didn't really look as if Sivivatu got downward pressure on the ball. Anyway the try was awarded and Weepu made the conversion for a scoreline of 20 points to 3.

And that was how the half ended with the scoreline reflecting the dominance of the All Blacks.

The second half started with an attack from the All Blacks which ends with the French caught offside. Evans, on for Carter, kicks an easy penalty to stretch the lead to a comfortable 20 points, 23 - 3.

The French reply with a Boyet penalty after Ali Williams is penalised for a high tackle. The scoreline now 23 - 6.

However Boyet becomes the villain a few minutes later when he is sin-binned for not retiring ten after Weepu took a quick tap close to the French goal line.

After Toeava is denied a try by the TMO, Sivivatu scores an easy second try for the All Blacks after the ball is turned over in a French scrum five metres out. Evans misses the touchline conversion kick and the score is 28 - 6. There is some controversy over the try though as it looked as if Evans had tipped the ball forward in a quick move to get the ball out wide to Sivivatu.

The French get their first try of the game when winger Coux runs on to a kick through despite the close attention of Rokocoko. With Boyet in the sin bin still, the kicking duties fall to Durant who misses the sideline conversion. The score is now 28 - 11 with 20 minutes to go.

Mauger is next on the score sheet spotting a gap in the French defence and coasting 30 metres for the try. Evans converts to give the All Blacks a 24 point lead, 35 - 11.

From here on it's all ABs, with the French looking tired and dejected. So'oialo on for an injured McCaw scores the fifth try for the All Blacks and with Evans' conversion this makes the score 42 to 11.

And that was how the game ended. Not a surprising result given the level of the French team sent over. The All Blacks looked a wee bit rusty but given that was there first game of the year it wasn't a bad display. The French looked good in defence but lacked imagination and their usual flair in attack. They must be hoping that an 'A' team would have made the scoreline a bit closer.