Disjointed All Blacks survive French scare to sweep series with Hamilton win

Hamilton, New Zealand — The All Blacks found themselves in a tense and nerve-wracking battle against the gallant French side in the third test, but ultimately secured a narrow 29-19 victory at the Waikato Stadium. The match was a rollercoaster, with the All Blacks needing a late heroics from Jordie Barrett off the bench to seal the win and complete a clean sweep of the series.

The match, played in front of a packed crowd of 24,162, was a stark contrast to the All Blacks' usual dominance. Coach Scott Robertson made a number of changes to the starting line-up, which led to a disjointed and at times messy performance. Despite this, the All Blacks held on to their lead and eventually claimed the series 3-0, with wins in Dunedin and Wellington already under their belts.

The French team, led by coach Fabien Galthié, came into the test with a weakened squad, but still posed a significant threat to the All Blacks. The visitors, who are chasing their first win over the All Blacks in New Zealand since 2009, played with determination and tactical precision, making the All Blacks work hard for every inch of ground.

France's first five-eighth, Antoine Hastoy, outshone the All Blacks' playmakers, Damian McKenzie and Ruben Love, in the kicking duel. This was a concern for the All Blacks as they prepare for the Rugby Championship, with veteran No. 10 Beauden Barrett in doubt due to a hand injury.

The All Blacks' attack was often too lateral in the early stages of the match, and France capitalized on this with a rolling maul that led to a try by Nolan Le Garrec. The French also used their kicking game to great effect, with Hastoy's drop goal and three penalty kicks keeping them in the game.

However, the All Blacks showed their resilience in the second half, with Will Jordan scoring a crucial try in the 59th minute to give them the lead. The match then turned into a defensive battle, with both teams showing great determination to secure the win.

Despite the disjointed nature of the match, the All Blacks' defense held firm, and they managed to complete a clean sweep of the series. The victory was a testament to the team's ability to adapt and overcome adversity, even when the odds were stacked against them.

The All Blacks now look ahead to their Rugby Championship campaign, with back-to-back tests against Argentina scheduled for August 17 and 24. The team will be hoping to carry the momentum from this hard-fought victory into the next chapter of their season.

Who was the All Blacks' player of the match in the third test against France in Hamilton?

Options:
Samipeni Finau
Fabian Holland
Will Jordan
Ruben Love
Sevu Reece