By Kiwi Desi AI Bot (WiDesAI) for New Zealand Bharat News (NZB News)

Summary

The All Blacks’ season opener against France in Dunedin on 5 July 2025 delivered a gripping contest that tested the mettle of both sides. Despite missing several frontline players, a youthful French squad pushed New Zealand to the brink, with the All Blacks ultimately prevailing 31-27 in a match marked by fine margins, high drama, and standout individual performances. Will Jordan’s two-try effort and Beauden Barrett’s composure under pressure proved decisive, but the match also exposed areas for improvement in the All Blacks’ defensive structure and discipline.

Excerpt

The rivalry between New Zealand and France is one of rugby’s most storied, marked by moments of brilliance, heartbreak, and unpredictability. In Dunedin, the tradition continued as the All Blacks, under new coach Scott Robertson, faced a French team brimming with youthful energy and intent on making a statement. While the All Blacks secured the win, the narrow margin and the quality of the French performance signalled that this three-match series is set to be anything but routine.

A Rivalry Forged in History

The All Blacks and France have contested rugby’s grandest stages for over a century, with their first meeting dating back to 1906. While New Zealand holds a dominant record in the fixture, France has often been the Northern Hemisphere’s most formidable challenger, earning a reputation as the All Blacks’ “bogey team.” French sides have halted New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup campaigns and delivered some of the sport’s most memorable upsets.

This backdrop added extra intrigue to the Dunedin Test, the first of a three-match series in July 2025. The All Blacks entered the match as favourites, but France’s unpredictable flair and resilience were never in doubt.

Match Overview: All Blacks 31, France 27

Under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium, the All Blacks began their 2025 campaign with a hard-fought 31-27 victory over France. The contest was anything but straightforward, with momentum swinging repeatedly and both sides demonstrating moments of brilliance and vulnerability.

Key Moments:

Early French Pressure: France shocked the home crowd by surging to a 10-0 lead, capitalising on New Zealand’s handling errors and defensive lapses.
Will Jordan’s Brilliance: Will Jordan, recently named among the world’s top ten rugby players, responded with two tries, showcasing his remarkable finishing ability. He had a third try disallowed after a marginal obstruction call.
Disallowed Tries and TMO Drama: The match was punctuated by frequent interventions from the Television Match Official (TMO), with three All Black tries wiped off the board. These decisions kept the contest on a knife edge and frustrated players and fans alike.
Barrett’s Composure: Beauden Barrett’s flawless goal-kicking, including a crucial penalty in the 73rd minute, extended the All Blacks’ lead to four points, forcing France to chase a try in the dying moments.
French Resilience: Despite missing many of their established stars, the young French side responded to every All Black score, with Gabin Villiere and Nolann Le Garrec among the standouts.
Defensive Stand: In the final minutes, the All Blacks’ defence held firm against a determined French attack, sealing a nervy win.

Will Jordan: The Try-Scoring Phenomenon

Will Jordan’s performance was central to New Zealand’s victory. Despite carrying a leg injury into the match and being a late doubt to start, Jordan not only took the field but shifted from fullback to right wing after Sevu Reece’s early head injury. His two tries brought his tally to 40 in 42 Tests, a strike rate unmatched in All Black history. Jordan now edges closer to Doug Howlett’s national record of 49 tries, with the prospect of surpassing both Howlett and Beauden Barrett before the year’s end.

Jordan’s ability to score from anywhere—whether finishing sweeping moves or exploiting defensive gaps—remains a key weapon for the All Blacks. His third try, chalked off for obstruction, highlighted the fine margins that often decide Test rugby.

The French Challenge: Youthful Grit and Flair

France’s performance belied their status as underdogs. Missing the bulk of their first-choice players, the visitors fielded a side brimming with emerging talent. Their willingness to attack from deep, coupled with disciplined defence and opportunistic finishing, kept them in the contest throughout.

Gabin Villiere’s try early in the second half, following a New Zealand knock-on, epitomised the French approach: capitalise on mistakes and punish lapses ruthlessly. Nolann Le Garrec’s accurate goal-kicking and the team’s collective resilience ensured the All Blacks were never comfortable.

All Blacks’ Areas for Improvement

While the All Blacks showed flashes of their trademark attacking flair, the match also exposed areas of concern:

Defensive Lapses: Conceding three tries and allowing France to respond quickly after scoring will be a focus for coach Scott Robertson. The All Blacks struggled to get two scores ahead and let in several “soft” tries, particularly around the edges and through the middle.
Discipline: Frequent penalties and handling errors disrupted New Zealand’s momentum and allowed France to stay in touch.
Clinical Edge: Despite several promising attacking moves, the All Blacks failed to convert pressure into points on multiple occasions, with disallowed tries and turnovers proving costly.

Will Jordan, reflecting on the match, acknowledged these issues, noting that scoring 31 points should be enough to win, but conceding 27 was “probably too high” for the team’s standards.

Tactical Battles and Standout Players

The tactical battle between the two sides was evident throughout:

All Black Attack: The combination of Beauden Barrett’s playmaking, Damian McKenzie’s incisive running, and Codie Taylor’s work at hooker provided attacking impetus.
French Defence: The visitors’ defensive structure, discipline at the breakdown, and ability to absorb pressure were impressive, particularly given their relative inexperience.
Set Piece: Both teams had mixed fortunes at the lineout and scrum, with New Zealand’s ambition sometimes undermined by handling errors and French pressure.

Ardie Savea’s relentless work rate and Cam Roigard’s threat from halfback were also noteworthy for the All Blacks, while France’s young stars demonstrated that the future of Les Bleus is in capable hands.

The Series Outlook

The narrow win sets up a tantalising remainder of the series, with Tests to follow on 12 and 19 July. The Dunedin result has dispelled any notion of a straightforward All Black sweep. France’s depth and determination suggest that the next two encounters will be fiercely contested.

For New Zealand, the match provided valuable lessons and a reminder that even at home, victory is never guaranteed. The All Blacks’ quest for improvement will focus on tightening their defence, reducing errors, and rediscovering the clinical edge that has defined their greatest teams.

A Rivalry Renewed

The All Blacks vs France rivalry continues to captivate rugby fans worldwide. From the epic World Cup battles to the drama in Dunedin, these contests are defined by unpredictability, passion, and moments of individual brilliance. The latest chapter has reaffirmed France’s status as New Zealand’s most dangerous Northern Hemisphere opponent and set the stage for more enthralling rugby in the weeks ahead.

In Summary

The All Blacks’ 31-27 win over France in Dunedin was a showcase of Test rugby’s enduring appeal: high stakes, fine margins, and the ever-present possibility of an upset. As both teams look ahead to the next matches in the series, the rivalry remains as compelling as ever, promising more drama, skill, and intensity on the road to 2025’s rugby milestones.