More french misery for All Blacks
By Daniel Gilhooly, 14 Jun 2009 Daniel Gilhooly is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Francois Trinh-Duc, French rugby, Ma'a Nonu, Rugby Union
At the Rugby World Cup it was devastation. On Saturday night it was utter frustration inflicted on New Zealand by France who were deserved 27-22 winners in the first Test.
A new-look New Zealand side failed to adapt to the rigours of the Test game, outscored three tries to two by opponents who simply played more pragmatic rugby, defending aggressively and adopting a far more accurate kicking game.
Flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc and hooker William Servat scored tries as France took an emphatic 17-3 lead after 27 minutes, dominating the match in every area.
New Zealand fought back with a try to No.8 Liam Messam to trail 17-11 at halftime and tied the scores 17-17 after 57 minutes before France pulled away with a late intercept try to fullback Maxime Medard.
France halfback Julien Dupuy kicked three conversions and two penalties to take 12 points from his Test debut, while All Blacks flyhalf Stephen Donald landed four penalties, also for 12 points.
New Zealand centre Ma’a Nonu scored a late try which narrowed France’s margin without disguising the visitors’ superiority.
“It was very tough,” French captain Thierry Dusautoir said. “We were very nervous before the match but we gave our all and won. We are very proud.
“Our defense was good but we also scored three tries which is very important against the All Blacks. We are going to enjoy this victory and prepare again for (the second Test) next week.” The teams play again next Saturday in Wellington.
New Zealand’s loss was only the fifth in 36 Tests at Carisbrook but the second in a row on the Dunedin ground on which they have built a formidable record.
It was only the fourth win for France on New Zealand soil in 22 attempts since 1961.
But it continued French depression for New Zealand coach Graham Henry and his team, nearly two years after their last meeting, the fateful 20-18 World Cup quarterfinal loss in Cardiff.
While the New Zealanders weren’t talking revenge this week, the result would have stung deeply, particularly as they hoping to prove they can play top rugby without injured stars Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter.
A host of other players were missing with injury and the green nature of the team was shown up by the tourists, who rushed effectively on defence and had an edge at the scrum and breakdown areas, overshadowing the raw loose forward trio of Liam Messam, Adam Thomson and Kieran Read.
No one would be hurting more than fullback Mils Muliaina in his first Test as captain, unable to lift his side to a win that appeared on the cards when his team scored 14 unanswered points either side of halftime.
They paid for too many inaccurate kicks of both the long and short, attacking variety.
The All Blacks paid the price for making silly mistakes, falling off tackles and giving up turnover ball, Muliaina said.
“We put ourselves under immense pressure — it was a big learning curve and we have got to learn fast. Next week we got to be a lot better than we were tonight.”
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- Explore:
- All Blacks, Francois Trinh-Duc, French rugby, Ma'a Nonu, Rugby Union
June 14th 2009 @ 11:41am
True Tah said | June 14th 2009 @ 11:41am | Report comment
Henry and Co should be thankful it was only France B they were playing!
June 14th 2009 @ 12:54pm
Spencer said | June 14th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
I watched the match in the pub with the usual bunch of South African and NZ chaps. After about 20 minutes the Kiwi’s started abusing Barnes! It took us a while to realize that they had lost track of time! Can we get some opinions on the ref? I thought that he had a reasonable game, with a smattering of mistakes.
My summation is that the coaches got it wrong at the selection table. It was very obvious that the NZ players had poor positional play, mainly due to the fact that many of them were playing out of position i.e. a team of utilities. I think KO and Pothole (sorry but that is a far better name) made these observations during the week.
I expect NZ to win next week due in large part because the French will be on the turps for the next 3 days, and the fact that the French rarely string 2 good performances together.
True Tah – thats a wind up right (French 2nd team)?
June 14th 2009 @ 12:55pm
bennalong said | June 14th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Don’t take it away from the French. I thought they played full-on test Rugby and stole the show early.
Individually the AB’s look fine on paper but the lacked leadership up front and were poorly organised, even weak, in defense at crucial times.
Trinh doc was commanding and confident at 10 and will trouble the Wallabies in a few weeks time.
It will be interesting to see if Henry Hansen can rectify the deficiencies and make it two-all. Pity there won’t be a decider if that happens.
Oh for those halcyon days before the promotional RWC changed the game for the worse.
June 14th 2009 @ 1:13pm
Hemjay said | June 14th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Interesting see below comment from a certain poster who seems to have it in for me for questioning the ABs ability last week and doubting that they would beat the french comfortably.
Knives Out said | June 11th 2009 @ 5:14am (3 days ago) | Report comment
‘They will contest a French side only missing first choice captain Lionel Nallet (46 caps), Morgan Parra (8 caps) and Imanol Harinordoquy (56 caps); all ruled out prior to the original squad selection.’
So here you go comment from a guy who is now trying to claim that this is a French B team after the win yet before the game he was saying it was near their best how quickly a day changes ones view. It also just highlights my post last week that many would make more out of the win than was actually there. They French deserved to win they outmuscled the ABs and they had a lot more passion. I feel justified in my doubts and comments from last week which I was harranged for having. Seems one is not aloud to suggest this was / is a weak NZ team.
Pothale you and a few others are quick to point out that the French were missing some players.Yet refuse to acknowledge that the ABs were missing half of their starting lineup. Sivivatu, Carter, McCaw, Smith, Williams, Leonard and So’oialo not to mention guys like Kahui , Waldrom and Wulf who would definately have been on the bench if not starting.
The French will be hugely confident going into the test in Wellington and have every right to be. I will be interested to see Henrys team lineup. Whitlock and De Malmanche in the team how much game time will either receive?
Many have debated that De Malmanche should have been the deputy to Hore I guess now he has his chance.
June 14th 2009 @ 1:25pm
Rusty Beef said | June 14th 2009 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
The ref had a good game. It’s hard for the Kiwis to complain about a few dubious decisions from the ref when it was plain and clear that the All Black forwards could not secure their own rucks nor apply any pressure to the french ones. The advantage line was rarely gained and their backs were dour and lethargic. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Masaga and Lauaki starting in the next match (is Lauaki fit at the moment??).
June 14th 2009 @ 2:05pm
van der Merwe said | June 14th 2009 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
Only the most asinine AB fan would complain about the referee. He definitely favoured the home side; if anything, he kept them in the game. Donald’s dive was embarrassing.
June 14th 2009 @ 2:05pm
Who Needs Melon said | June 14th 2009 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
Commiserations to my NZ brethren but a hearty congratulations to the French. They came fired up, sniffing a chance and as the first half wore on their confidence increased – which is what seems to always make the French dangerous.
Now for the rematch…
June 14th 2009 @ 3:16pm
katzilla said | June 14th 2009 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
Plain and simple we were beaten by a better team.
That I can handle rather then a lesser team playing with more passion to gouge an upset.
After a small exhale those watching at my place kinda just shrugged and we all kind of agreed that now that its done it can only mean good things for NZ rugby.
We need to be giving these guys some exposure to top players (thankyou France for sending top players this time), and letting rookies ride the coat tails of Richie and Dan does nothing for us when we need those guys to step up and take the reins during the tough ones.
Good result for France, Good result for NH, Good result for NZ and all around good result for rugby.
June 14th 2009 @ 4:52pm
Bonza said | June 14th 2009 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
Hemjay – for me both teams were missing players as always seems to be the case these days. The real point is whether you use this as an excuse for the result. Well done to the French as to me they won the battle of tactics and attitude and for this the AB’s have little excuse
June 14th 2009 @ 5:43pm
ThelmaWrites said | June 14th 2009 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
In a very late post in Sheek’s “Australian Rugby Is Talentess”, I expressed my fears about “the level of ferocity in the powerhouse 6 Nations teams which I witnessed” after a month of viewing 6 Nations, Super 14s, English club rugby, etc while with DaniE in Kuala Lumpur. “Onside” urged me to recompose my thoughts for an article, but I hesitated. 1) Because I couldn’t find my notes (DaniE saves games to the hard drive). 2) Being a cautious sort, I thought I should wait for the outcome of the France V NZ game.
The French have improved even more since their match on 28 February when they beat Wales, who were then gunning for a repeat Grand Slam. I’m particuarly impressed with the French LEG DRIVE. One note I made of that game (Wales v France) was: “propulsion stand off ruck”. Watch their stance while defending their goal line as the All Blacks tried to score.
Other notes from Kuala Lumpur: “24 minutes…change from right to left point in attack”… “Bit of kicking, tactical, but never ping pong”. “…”Sharp passes”…”Very fast”…”Run from their goal line” …”Loop”…”Yes long ball – Trinh Duc”…”Propulsion stand off ruck”…Second half: “French No 15 quick chasing”…”Fit”…”Dropped balls, second half” (duh)…”French fit forwards”…”05 min French phase play” (whatever that means)…”Emile Ntamack” (probably noting who the coach was).
No eye-gouging.
My notes also say how quick Wales were in defence from their line, as if they had practiced timing this. (In the Wales v England game a week earlier, Wales displayed an armory of offensive tactics, especially decoy runs.)
“Body height” used to be the thing in Australian rugby, but it has since departed, except for occasional appearances. (Berrick Barnes, Stirling Mortlock come to mind).
ONSIDE, if you’re following this thread, the correct pages in Matt Burke’s autobio where he talks of the “more traditional belief that the way to play rugby was to let it flow, to play what was in front of you” are pages 50-51, while discussing Greg Smith’s tactical style. I left the autobio with DaniE. It was her birthday gift, and I’m relying on my notes and my memory.