An All Blacks clean sweep, Test time for emerging players, and a French team that battled all the way ensured there was plenty in the Lipovitan-D Test series to like ahead of the Rugby Championship phase of the international season for New Zealand.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson acknowledged France’s effort, saying they produced a gallant effort at the end of a long season. They were ‘hugely spirited’ and he was pleased the under-strength All Blacks found a way to win.
“We’ll be better for the experience. Down 0-10 at one stage we found a way. We played some good footy, got held up three or four times but there was some good stuff in it, and we’re better for it.”
It was an example of the 23-man match squad working together for the win.
“We know how important the 23 is, and Jordie [Barrett] was so professional when he came on. He made a massive difference for us.
“Some of that [game] wasn’t pretty, we understand that. There was a hell of a lot of character.”
The French tested the All Blacks with different approaches in each of the Tests, and they tackled in a manner unlike anything the New Zealanders had experienced in Super Rugby, and probably unlike anything in world rugby.
“We know it’s coming, we’ve got to stop them, and that’s what we learned again tonight.”
Robertson said the All Blacks were still putting pressure on themselves with their restarts.
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea said each of the three Tests was different.
On Saturday, they were punched in the nose in the first half but managed to come back in the second.
“You have to credit the French defence for stopping us from scoring a few tries. That shows character. But I’m also proud of our men, too, for doing their jobs, rolling their sleeves up, and coming away with the win.
“The French put us under a lot of pressure; we spilled the ball, gave them opportunities, gave them scraps, and that was through the pressure that they put on us.”
The side’s leaders took a big breath and tightened their approach to force change.
“I was pleased, just before halftime we got stuck in and we were able to get seven points. That was a good outcome going into half time and then coming back and finishing the job.”
The halftime message was that the All Blacks needed to lower their ball carries while also getting fast, quality ball from the breakdowns.
Savea said he was given a lesson from his attempted chip-kick near the All Blacks’ line that resulted in the French applying more pressure.
“My execution was off. I probably saw a picture but the execution wasn’t there, and if you look at the outcome that put us under pressure. That’s a lesson for a leader like myself to take that in and learn from it.”
French coach Fabien Galthie said while France had a halftime lead, it was hard to hold onto.
“We had two chances to score in the 60th minute, but we didn’t manage to score. We didn’t score a point in the second half.
“We fought hard, we didn’t let up, but I’m disappointed for the guys. They prepared to win the game. On commitment and unity, the desire to win was there.
“There was a four-point difference in the first Test and 10 in the last. When you lose three times to the same team, it’s because they are better than you.
“But the players believed in it; they committed themselves.
“There was nothing to lose and everything to gain here. It was a challenge to live together, to come here and challenge the All Blacks three times. We had to adapt to the international calendar, to the national calendar with this European Cup which takes a lot of energy. We have to work with this ecosystem.”