All Blacks edge France in opening Nations Championship thriller

Win gives New Zealand the perfect start to both the Dave Rennie era and the 2026 season, while France leave Christchurch disappointed

SURGING: France's Matthieu Jalibert on thee break during Saturday's thrilling Nations Championship game at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch. Pic: Sanka Vidanagama, AFP via Getty Images

Nations Championship: New Zealand 34 France 32

RUGBY's Nations Championship is up and running, and has started with a bang in Christchurch. The All Blacks held off a late surge from France to edge the Six Nations champions, bouncing back from an early yellow card to prevail. 

France couldn't have asked for a better start, stunning the home crowd when Damian Penaud crossed inside two minutes before All Black ten Ruben Love was shown a yellow card for a high tackle in the build-up.

It's a winning start for new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie but his side were made to earn every bit of it in a thrilling victory in front of a packed One New Zealand Stadium.

Prolific winger Will Jordan struck in the seventh and 71st minute to hand new All Blacks boss Rennie a winning start and move within two of Doug Howlett's record 49 tries for New Zealand.

Peter Lakai and outstanding scrum-half Cam Roigard (2) were also on target for the southern hemisphere giants, while Six Nations champions France fell short of a rare win on New Zealand soil despite tries from Damian Penaud, Antoine Hastoy, Theo Attissogbe and Matthieu Jalibert.

They led by six at the break and despite a Jordan try giving them breathing space France refused to go quietly. Down 34-25, they threw everything at the All Blacks in a frantic finish and eventually crashed over through Matthieu Jalibert to set up a grandstand last two minutes. 

New Zealand skipper Ardie Savea admits the challenge from France, saying: “It was tough. The French were quality tonight.

“When we had the ball in our hands we were dangerous. Hopefully we can enjoy tonight and really come together.

“A Test match is a Test match, always one of the biggest challenges. The French came out here to play and put us under pressure quite a bit.”

Next up, the All Blacks host Italy, while France head across the Tasman to take on the Wallabies.

New Zealand: Tries: Jordan (7, 70), Lakai (20), Roigard (39, 49); Cons: Love (20, 40, 50); Pens: Love (65); Yellow: Love (1)

France: Tries: Penaud (1), Hastoy (46), Attissogbe (58), Jalibert (77); Cons: Lucu (2, 47), Hastoy (78);  Pens: Lucu (14, 29).

NEW ZEALAND: McKenzie, Jordan, Tupaea, J. Barrett, Clarke, Love, Roigard, de Groot, Taylor, Newell, Lord, Darry, Lakai, Jacobson, Savea.

Replacements: Aumua, Numia, Lomax, Hannah, Sititi, Ratima, Proctor.

FRANCE: M. Spring, Penaud, Brau Boirie, Falatea-Moefana, Attissogbe, Jalibert, Lucu, Poirot, Lamothe, Bamba, Auradou, Staniforth, Bochaton, Jegou, Gazzotti.

Replacements: Massa, Wardi, Montagne, Guillard, Tixeront, Le Garrec, Hastoy, Depoortere.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)