New Zealand opened their Nations Championship campaign with a hard-fought win over France in a contest that underlined why meetings between these two sides remain among the sport’s most compelling. The match swung back and forth in a tense first half, with France briefly edging ahead before the All Blacks responded at a crucial moment just before the break.
France push New Zealand early
France’s ability to stay in touch on the scoreboard mattered in a game where momentum was fragile and every penalty carried weight. Lucu’s second successful penalty put the visitors into a one-point lead, a reminder that New Zealand could not afford to treat the opener as a routine assignment. Against elite opposition, small margins often decide the outcome, and France showed enough discipline to keep the pressure on.
For New Zealand, the response before half-time was the key passage. After hooker Codie Taylor went close, Roigard finished on the cusp of the interval to restore control and give the three-time world champions a six-point advantage at the end of a relentless opening half. That sequence mattered not only on the scoreboard but also psychologically, because it shifted the burden back onto France after they had worked their way into the lead.
Why the result matters for both sides
For supporters of the All Blacks, the result offers an early sign that the team can absorb pressure and still find a way through in a high-intensity contest. Openers in major international competitions often reveal more about resilience than fluency, and this one suggested New Zealand were prepared for a physical, tactical battle rather than a free-flowing spectacle.
France, meanwhile, will take encouragement from the fact that they were able to disrupt New Zealand’s rhythm and force the game into a narrow margin. Even in defeat, that kind of resistance is valuable in a championship format where points difference, composure, and game management can shape the wider campaign.
The opening half was described as relentless, and that is the clearest indication of the standard both teams set. New Zealand’s ability to strike at the end of the half may prove decisive in the context of the tournament, while France will likely view the match as evidence that they can compete with the best if they maintain discipline and convert pressure into points.
For the wider Nations Championship picture, this was exactly the sort of opener that gives the competition immediate credibility: two heavyweight nations, a narrow scoreline, and a result shaped by execution in the biggest moments.
Source note: This article was prepared using publicly available information from BBC Sport and expanded with editorial context.
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