New Zealand secured a 34-32 victory over France in the opening match of the inaugural Nations Championship in Christchurch on Saturday. All Blacks coach Dave Rennie, overseeing his first Test since taking over in January, relied on a brace of tries from both Cam Roigard and Will Jordan to edge past a French side missing players from top clubs Toulouse and Montpellier.
How did the All Blacks secure the win under Dave Rennie?
The All Blacks’ victory relied on a high-tempo offensive strategy that Rennie implemented to move away from excessive kicking. Despite conceding four tries to France, New Zealand managed five of their own, with Peter Lakai also crossing the line in the 21st minute. Rennie noted that his team achieved nearly 85% quick ball at the breakdown, which he described as “outrageous” in a positive sense. However, the coach emphasized that the team’s accuracy must improve, noting that defensive lapses nearly cost them the match against a resilient French lineup.
Why was the match against France considered a defensive challenge?
France, coached by Fabien Galthié, maintained a frantic pace that put the All Blacks under pressure from the opening minutes. Damian Penaud scored in the second minute after a high hit by New Zealand fly-half Ruben Love on Max Spring, which resulted in a yellow card. According to Rennie, New Zealand struggled to apply consistent pressure, stating, “We’ve got to get off the line and apply a lot more pressure, give them slow balls so we can reset.” The French side capitalized on this, with Antoine Hastoy and Matthieu Jalibert keeping the scoreline tight until the final whistle.
What are the future implications for the Nations Championship?
The match serves as a template for the tactical evolution of the inaugural Nations Championship. While France utilized a creative, wide-passing game—highlighted by Theo Attissogbe’s “basketball-style” pass for Hastoy’s try—New Zealand prioritized forward-led possession. The ability for the All Blacks to retain the ball from the final restart to kill the clock suggests that game management remains as vital as the “optimistic” running rugby Rennie aims to instill. Future matches in the series will likely test whether teams can maintain this high-tempo approach without sacrificing the defensive discipline required to close out narrow games.
Did you know?
Will Jordan’s try in the closing stages of the match brought his tally to 47 Test tries, moving him into a tie for second place on the all-time list for the All Blacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who coached New Zealand in this match? Dave Rennie coached the All Blacks, taking over the role in January.
- Why was the French team considered under-strength? The French squad did not include players from the top clubs Toulouse and Montpellier.
- What was the final score? New Zealand won 34-32.
- How many tries did Cam Roigard score? Cam Roigard scored two tries for New Zealand.
What did you think of the new high-tempo strategy under Dave Rennie? Join the conversation in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more rugby analysis.
