Rugby: All Blacks beat France

New Zealand 37 France 12

New Zealand avenged their dramatic 1999 World Cup semi-final defeat to France with a convincing victory in the one-off Test in Wellington.

Recalled veteran Jeff Wilson, Reuben Thorne, Jonah Lomu and super-sub Doug Howlett scored the tries while Tony Brown added 17 points from the boot for the All Blacks.

France’s David Skrela had kicked two penalties in the first 11 minutes to put the visitors in front before the home side rallied.

Brown reduced the deficit moments later before he superbly off-loaded in the tackle for Wilson to cross over on 21 minutes and regain his New Zealand Test try-scoring record.

Nine minutes later and the All Blacks extended the lead with Justin Marshall setting up Thorne for his debut Test try, again converted by Brown.

The sides exchanged two penalties each in the first 10 minutes after the break as the game tightened up.

But in contrast to New Zealand’s World Cup defeat, where France came back from the dead to triumph, the All Blacks dominated the closing stages.

Lomu raced down the left wing with his usual battering-ram style to score in the 71st minute.

Five minutes later Howlett crossed for his eighth try in seven Tests less than 30 seconds after coming off the bench to rubber-stamp the victory for the All Blacks.