All Blacks France: cheers for a great Test series

 
James Mortimer Roar Pro

By James Mortimer, 22 Jun 2009 James Mortimer is a Roar Pro

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Perhaps it is the sight of black garbed men opposite them, but if Les Bleus committed these sorts of performances every test match, they would be a mighty world power. But, it is the lack of consistency that is the marque de fabrique of the Tri colours.

This series could be the critical moment for Coach Marc Lievremont. It is the two best performances his team have strung together under his watch, and not only has this series proven that in 2011 France will mark a considerable assault on the World Cup, but will have other Northern Hemisphere nations on notice.

France on this series must be favourites for the 2010 Six Nations.

While the world’s collective glance may be towards South Africa in the Lions series, these classical test matches have defined international rugby competition at its premium.

A battle of attrition was to be expected, but in poor conditions, with constant rain and a clear southerly chill, the lack of benevolence from the weather would ensure a much fiercer contest.

As expected, a wounded All Black team lifted their performance to the demanded level required as befitting their proud history and lofty public requirements.

In the first half, All Black ball retention was superb. It is difficult to say whether it was the inclusion of a specialist open side, or just a better display all round in the loose, but the contest for the ball and the retention of possession would have done the master Richie McCaw proud.

New Zealand turned over French ball four times in the first half, and conceded no ball themselves.

But as the All Blacks looked a far superior side to the team that lost 22-27 in Carisbrook last week, the French backed up their heroics from their first test win. There was so much heat and focus on the All Blacks in the second test build up, that it was lost whether or not Les Bleus could back up.

France is not a sequential team, as shown in their history of Southern tours.

With the exception of their 36-26 triumph over the Springboks in Cape Town in 2006, this is so far their best tour since the French of the early nineties.

That side from mid 1990 through to 1996 only lost one Southern test match, beating the Wallabies, Springboks, All Blacks twice, and the Puma’s on four occasions.

Since then they have won only seven of 27 matches.

Why would you not want to send a full strength team to the most taxing battlegrounds of world rugby, we ask the North?

One hopes, for the sake of early season All Black and Wallaby comparisons, that the same intense Les Bleus arrive at Stadium Australia. If they do, Robbie Deans convalescing Australian test team will receive a concentrated exam on their new abilities.

The All Blacks went into half time 8-0 ahead, courtesy of a well built try from Ma’a Nonu.

One felt they could have been further ahead, but these were conditions where the scores were only built by a moment of brilliance.

Unfortunately for the All Blacks, that genius would occur after the break.

The required patience seemed to temporarily desert the home team; with a magical try from Cedric Heymans bringing the French back into the match, and in one move of sorcery, undid almost all of the hard work that the All Blacks had done for 40 minutes prior.

The Toulouse veteran danced his way down the touchline, and despite the cover defence of Mils Muliaina, Jimmy Cowan and Joe Rokocoko, he scored in the corner, easily the try of the midyear internationals so far.

The All Blacks came back into the match though, but despite the improved performance, there were still struggles in their tactical control of the match.

While Stephen Donald had a stellar season with the Chiefs, there is still much it seems to be learnt by the young Waikato number ten.

One wonders, are the weaknesses in his game only so apparent for the stunning heights that Dan Carter had set before him?

As the match wore on, the close score line belied the supremacy of the All Blacks team, much as the reverse had applied in Carisbrook for the French.

Tanerau Latimer had a brilliant game at open side, with the balance of the All Black loose forward trio looking more apparent.

The backs had a much improved performance, and even though Donald struggled at times, particularly with his kicking, the impact of the Hurricanes midfield of Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu was almost game breaking. Not only with ball in hand, but on the central channel where many of the All Blacks high balls eventuated.

For France, to be fair, to finish within 4 points when they never really looked in a position to imply their game plan on the All Blacks was a magnificent performance.

By virtue of this, they won the Dave Gallaher Cup for the first time since its inception in 2000.

It has been since been revealed that the All Black coaches purposely did not inform the team regarding the six point margin required for the side to retain the cup, saying that it would have distracted the side from the game at hand.

Earlier in the cups history, it was decided by the winner of the first calendar match between the sides.

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