All Blacks v France Stat Attack

The All Blacks missed out to France this past weekend. Some facts and figures from the test by Peter Marriott.

New Zealand v France in Paris: Lost 29-30

New Zealand and France first met in a test at Parc des Princes on 1 January 1906. New Zealand won the match 38-8. It was New Zealand’s eighth-ever international and France’s first official test.

The 10 tries scored by New Zealand in that match have never been bettered. They have twice scored nine tries: at Wellington in 2007 and at Cardiff in the 2015 Rugby World Cup Quarter-final.

France’s record for most tries scored in a match against the All Blacks is four, on three occasions.

The two nations have now played 64 times together: New Zealand has won 48 times to France’s 15. There was a 20-20 draw in 1902, exactly 22 years ago to the day of this match.

There have been 29 matches played in France between the two sides: the All Blacks have won 19, France nine, and there has been one draw.

This was New Zealand’s 350th match played away from home. Of this total they have won 250 (71.4%), lost 86 and drawn 14.

France has now hosted New Zealand 10 times at the Stade de France. The visitors have won six times, lost three times (the last three matches in a row) and drawn once.

The loss of those three matches equals the All Black’s record for most consecutive defeats by France anywhere: they also lost twice in 1994 (Christchurch and Auckland) and again in 1995 (Toulouse).

The All Blacks lost for the first time against France by one point. Previously they had lost by a single point against Australia (four times), South Africa (four times) and Wales. By coincidence, the last match which they lost by the one point was also at the Stade de France: against South Africa in the World Cup Final in 2023 which South Africa won 12-11.

The All Blacks have twice beaten France by one point: 10-9 at Christchurch in 1984 and 8-7 in the World Cup Final at Auckland in 2011.

In total New Zealand has won 22 matches by one point including their first match this year against England at Dunedin (16-15).

France’s 20 points scored in the second half of this match have only been bettered by the 33 points they scored during the second 40 minutes of the 1999 World Cup Semi-final in London which they eventually won 43-31.

The All Blacks failed to score a try during one of the halves for the second time this year. In their previous match against Ireland they kicked three penalties in the first half and in this match they kicked four penalties in the second half. In fact their first six scoring actions against Ireland were penalties and their last five scoring actions against France were also penalties.

The All Blacks have lost three matches away from home in 2024, the third time in the last four years and the eighth occasion in all. However, their worst year was in 1949 when they lost four.

The French 23 comprised three overseas-born players including one who was born in New Zealand: Emmanuel Meafou. Two others were born on French collective islands in Noumea and Futuna.

The All Blacks 23 also included five overseas-born players.

France retained the Dave Gallaher Trophy.

The All Blacks played in a white jersey ostensibly so they would not clash with the French colours.

The All Black haka was initially led by Codie Taylor and then headed by Rieko Ioane.

Twelve of the All Black side had not previously played against France: Asafo Aumua, Caleb Clarke, Samipeni Finau, Peter Lakai, Tyrel Lomax, Cameron Roigard, Sevu Reece, Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu and Tamaiti Williams.

Patrick Tuipulotu appeared in his 50th test for New Zealand. He is the 69th player to reach this milestone and second this year after Damian McKenzie did so against Fiji.

Scott Barrett led the All Blacks for the first time in a test against France and is the 25th player to do so. Richie McCaw captained the side a record 10 times against France and suffered just the one loss.

Peter Lakai, in just his second te,t scored his first try.

Cameron Roigard scored his sixth try in his ninth match. It was his first against France. All of Roigard’s matches have been against different teams.

Damian McKenzie’s 12 points (four penalties) took his total in 60 tests to 311 points. He is the seventh All Black to pass 300 points and is now just 12 points short of passing Aaron Cruden (322 points) into sixth place on the All Blacks all-time point scorers list.

Ardie Savea started at No 7 for the first time since appearing in that position against South Africa at Robina on 2 October 2021. That match was lost 29-31. In the meantime he has started 36 tests at No 8.

Cameron Roigard started as a Halfback/First-five eighth combination with Beauden Barrett for the first time. It was his fourth start in nine tests and he had previously combined with Damian McKenzie (twice) and Richie Mo’unga once.

There were five changes in the All Black starting XV from that which appeared in the previous match against Ireland. Three of those changes were in the backs and two in the forwards.

Romain Buros made his test debut for France. He, along with Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Georges-Henri Colombe, Emilien Gailleton, Mickael Guillard, Nolann Le Garrec, Emmanuel Meafou, Alexandre Roumat and Tevita Tatafu all played their first match against New Zealand.

Buros scored a try as did Paul Boudehent (third in 13th test) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (ninth in 13 tests). Thomas Ramos kicked 15 points to pass 350 in his 38th test. In his only previous outing against the All Blacks (the 2023 World Cup Pool match at the Stade de France) he kicked 17 points to take his tally in just two matches to 32. Ramos is in sixth place on the all-time French point scoring list with 362 points. At the top is Frederick Michalak with 436 points.

Thomas Ramos was named Man of the Match.

Between the two sides there were 13 attempts at kicking goals (five conversions and eight penalties). None were missed.

Nika Amashukeli of Georgia was in charge of the match. It was the fifth time he has refereed an All Black match and the third one of this year. New Zealand has lost twice when he has had the whistle: the first time was against Argentina at Christchurch in 2022.

New Zealand’s record in all test matches is played 650, won 498 (76.6%), lost 129 and drawn 23.