Peato Mauvaka scored two tries as France produced one of the greatest performances in their history to beat New Zealand 40-25 at the Stade de France.
Les Bleus enjoyed a dream first half as they ran in three tries including a Mauvaka double to lead 24-6, the 18-point deficit the largest in the history of New Zealand rugby.
The hooker’s tries came either side of an effort from Romain Ntamack, restored to the fly-half role for this game after starting the previous two games at inside centre and one the star performers on the night.
Mauvaka had got the ball rolling after just three minutes and France spent most of the first half on the front foot as they played at a relentless intensity.
They then had to resist a huge New Zealand comeback, getting back to within two points as they scored three tries in 20 minutes after the break.
But it was France who finished the stronger and Damian Penaud’s intercept try clinched a memorable victory – their first over the All Blacks since 2009 and first on French soil in 21 years.
France could not have hoped for a better start, Ntamack bursting through down the right. That attack did not come to fruition but a poor clearance kick from Jordie Barrett gave France a five-metre scrum. The rolling maul has become a weapon for France this November and Mauvaka was the beneficiary with the first try of the game.
Melvyn Jaminet converted but New Zealand hit back quickly as Barrett added two penalties to the cut the lead to a point.
But after a searing break from Penaud, France went over again, this time through Ntamack, stepping off his right foot and inside the drift defence to get over. With Jaminet’s conversion, France led 14-6.
Another penalty from Jaminet, this time after Brodie Retallick had been isolated from a scrambled lineout, stretched the lead to 11 points.
And there was time for a third French try before half-time as Mauvaka got his second. It came after a turnover and a cross-kick from Antoine Dupont to Gaël Fickou who batted inside to Ntamack. He in turn found Gabin Villière, and after Rieko Ioane gave away a penalty for slowing the ball down, France went to the corner and Mauvaka got his second. With Jaminet’s conversion, France led 24-6 at half-time.
New Zealand needed an early response and they got one as Dane Coles went over in the corner after a 50:22 from Richie Mo’unga.
And in a flash New Zealand were right back in it when Retallick turned the ball over at a ruck and Ioane was put into space and sprinted 60 metres for the try. With Barrett’s conversion it was back to 24-18 with half an hour still to play.
Now it was France on the back foot, but Jaminet knocked over a second penalty to push the lead back to nine points.
The momentum was all with New Zealand though and they had their third try soon after when Ardie Savea powered over from close range and with Barrett’s conversion it was 27-25 with an hour gone.
France had been on the back foot but then Ntamack produced a moment of absolute genius. The All Blacks looked to be in again but the fly-half got back after a kick through from Barrett, picked up the ball and carried into his own in-goal before shaking off two tackles and racing away. He found Jaminet with a no-look pass who took it up to halfway before feeding Dupont. He was tackled and France were forced to recycle but with a huge overlap Woki carried up towards the line. Savea then killed the ball and was sent to the sin-bin, with Jaminet’s penalty making it 30-25.
Soon after Sam Cane looked to have produced a huge steal when he ripped the ball off Jonathan Danty in the tackle but New Zealand tried to go from deep and David Havili’s pass was read perfectly by Penaud who streaked away. With the conversion, France had a 12-point lead.
They were inches away from another when Jaminet burst through and found Matthieu Jalibert’s whose attempted pass to Dupont went forward.
France had recovered their intensity and were playing the game in the right area of the pitch, although New Zealand held out as Les Bleus hammered away at the line.
But fittingly it was France who had the final say and when New Zealand infringed again, Jaminet put the cherry on the cake with a final penalty to take France to 40 points.
