All Blacks Dominate France in Third Test, Face Injury Challenges Ahead of Rugby Championship

Hamilton, New Zealand — The All Blacks secured a commanding 29-19 victory over France in the third and final test of their series, but the win came with a heavy price as coach Scott Robertson revealed a wave of fresh injury concerns that could impact the team's preparations for the Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks' triumph in Hamilton marked the end of a triumphant three-test series, with the team sweeping the French side with a combination of tactical precision and resilience. However, the victory was not without its challenges, as key players such as Tyrel Lomax and Beauden Barrett are now facing potential extended absences due to injuries sustained during the match and in training.

Lomax, who returned to the starting lineup for the third test, required an x-ray on his thumb following the match. Meanwhile, Barrett, the All Blacks' first-choice playmaker, suffered a hand fracture during training and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. This marks the second time this season that Barrett has sustained the same injury, a setback that could have significant implications for the team's attacking strategy.

“I can’t medically say how long he’ll be out for but it’ll be a few weeks to heal,” said Robertson, acknowledging the potential long-term impact of the injury. “It’s the same hand and the same fracture. We had a couple of injuries early in the piece but the guys battled on.”

Despite these setbacks, the All Blacks have nearly four weeks before their first match of the Rugby Championship, which will take place in Argentina on August 17. This window of time should allow for the recovery of several key players, although Lomax and Barrett remain under scrutiny for their availability.

The match itself was not without its own challenges for the All Blacks. Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson was a late withdrawal from the starting lineup after sustaining an injury during the warm-up, prompting a reshuffle in the loose forward positions. This reshuffle saw Du’Plessis Kirifi move to the openside and Ardie Savea shift to the back of the scrum, a change that tested the team’s cohesion early on.

Savea acknowledged the pressure the All Blacks faced from the under-strength French team, noting that the French had disrupted their ball multiple times. “We got punched in the nose in the first half and we came back in the second,” he said. “I’m proud of our men for rolling their sleeves up and coming away with the win.”

The All Blacks' performance was also impacted by a significant number of starting changes, a decision made by Robertson to build depth within the squad. While this move allowed fringe players such as Jordie Barrett and Fabian Holland to gain valuable test experience, it also led to a noticeable drop in cohesion, with frequent handling errors and lost lineouts affecting the team's attacking rhythm.

Jordie Barrett, who was called into the squad on Friday after Rieko Ioane’s hamstring tightened, made a significant impact from the bench. His try-saving tackle on French replacement Émilien Gailleton and a defining break that led to Brodie McAlister’s try on debut were pivotal moments in the match.

“Jordie was so professional when he came on he made a massive difference for us,” said Robertson. “Some of that wasn’t pretty – we understand that. But there was a lot of character and effort on the back of a lot of care.”

While the All Blacks’ performance against France may not have met their own high standards, it still provided valuable lessons for the team as they prepare for the challenges of the Rugby Championship. Players such as Kirifi and Holland will take away valuable experience from the match, while Samipeni Finau emerged as one of the few promoted prospects to shine.

Kirifi, who was one of the players brought in for the third test, expressed pride in the team’s performance. “We had a lot of changes this week and we wanted to continue the momentum and put a quality performance out there,” he said. “It wasn’t perfect by any means but plenty to be proud of and a lot of character shown in the second half to fight out of a hole and finish out on top.”

As the All Blacks prepare for the Rugby Championship, the team will need to address the challenges highlighted in this match, including the need for greater cohesion and improved attacking accuracy. With key players potentially missing due to injury, the coming weeks will be crucial for the team as they look to build a strong foundation for the season ahead.