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New Zealand wrapped up their series against France with a clinical display in Wellington on Saturday.
Roigard (13'), Savea (22'), Taylor (28'), Vaa'i (35'), Jordan (53'), Ioane (61')
Tries
Barre (46'), Brennan (76')
Barrett (14', 36', 54', 62'), Barrett (23')
Conversions
Garrec (47'), Hastoy (77')
Barrett (7')
Penalties
Garrec (19')
New Zealand wrapped up their series against France with a clinical display in Wellington on Saturday.
The All Blacks scored six tries to Les Blues two and in doing so earned their 501st test victory.
Codie Taylor, Cameron Roigard, Ardie Savea, Tupou Vaa’I, Will Jordan, and Rieko Ioane scored tries, while Beauden Barrett contributed 11 points with his boot, and his brother Jordie Barrett two.
For France there were tries from Leo Barre and Joshua Brennan, but Brennan’s yellow card midway through the first half gave New Zealand an opening that they didn’t pass up.
EARLY GIFT
Beauden Barrett gifted France an early chance to go on the attack when he misjudged his footing. France won the lineout, but after New Zealand’s defence held out, a knock-on allowed the All Blacks to clear.
The flyhalf then made amends when he kicked the opening points with a penalty, but both teams play was littered with errors.
New Zealand pinched a lineout, then knocked on. They then had a lineout on the French line, but Taylor overthrew, and Pierre Bochaton swooped on the loose ball.
Leo Barre looked secure at fullback, and he twice dealt with kick throughs.
It was the hosts who opened the scoring, and it came from a well-worked lineout move that finished with scrumhalf Roigard running down an unguarded wing to dot down.
FOOT TO THE FLOOR
Beauden Barrett then rounded off a memorable 20 minutes when he was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on, and Nolann Le Garrec banged over France’s first points.
No matter, Savea grabbed his side’s second and when Joshua Brennan evened up the sides with his own yellow, Taylor drove over from a lineout rolling maul.
By now France’s defence was ragged, and Vaa’I finished off an attack that punched holes at will.
Barre ended a good period of pressure from France early in the second half by racing through the All Blacks defence.
Jordan scored his fourth try of the series though and Ioane profited from quick Jordie Barrett hands to dive over in the corner and put the match out of reach.
France continued to grind away and Fabien Galthie will be pleased with the endeavour that earned Brennan a driven try late on, but they head to Hamilton for the third test knowing that their best chance of victory eluded them last week.
For the All Blacks it was another quietly impressive victory. Nothing flash, no showmanship, just 23 guys doing the basics well, and knowing when to raise the intensity.
New Zealand Starting XV (1-15) Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa'i, Ardie Savea, Christian Lio-Willie, Cam Roigard, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan
New Zealand Replacements (16-23) Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ollie Norris, Pasilio Tosi, Samipeni Finau, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Damian McKenzie
France Starting XV (1-15) Baptiste Erdocio, Gaetan Barlot, Georges-Henri Colombe, Joshua Brennan, Matthias Halagahu, Pierre Bochaton, Jacobus van Tonder, Esteban Abadie, Nolann Le Garrec, Joris Segonds, Emilien Gailleton, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Nicolas Depoortere, Theo Attissogbe, Leo Barre
France Replacements (16-23) Pierre Bourgarit, Paul Mallez, Regis Montagne, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Bastien Vergnes Taillefer, Thibault Daubagna, Antoine Hastoy
