A French team with 20 uncapped players outperformed previous tours, but still fell to the All Blacks

In a three-test series against the All Blacks, France arrived in New Zealand with 20 uncapped players in their ranks. Despite this, their performance was arguably the best by a visiting team in a mid-year test series in the professional era. However, they were still swept 3-0 by the All Blacks, who maintained their dominance with a smaller average winning margin than in previous encounters.

A closer contest than expected

The first test at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on July 5 was the most thrilling of the series. France matched the All Blacks try-for-try for most of the contest, and it took a late Beauden Barrett penalty to secure a narrow 31-27 win for the home side. This result, along with the subsequent matches, showed a marked improvement in the performance of the French team compared to their previous tours in 2013 and 2018, where they were heavily outmatched.

In the second test at Sky Stadium in Wellington, coach Fabian Galthié made significant changes to his lineup, opting to replace many of the players who had nearly pulled off an upset the previous week. The All Blacks responded strongly, scoring three tries in 16 minutes to take a 29-3 lead and win 43-17.

France's resilience shines through

The third test at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton saw France field their most-experienced team of the tour. Despite being up against a second-string All Blacks side, they led from the seventh minute until the 59th minute before ultimately falling 29-19. This performance marked a significant step forward for the French team and showed that they were capable of competing at a higher level than in previous visits to New Zealand.

A historical comparison

Across the three tests, the All Blacks scored 103 points while conceding 63, giving them an average winning margin of 13.33 points. This was the second-highest total of points conceded by a visiting team in the professional era, only surpassed by the Irish side that stunned the All Blacks in 2022. France’s performance was better than the 2013 and 2018 French teams, which lost 77-22 and 127-38 respectively, and also outperformed other visiting teams such as the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and Wales in 2016.

A rare challenge for the All Blacks

The efforts of the French team in Dunedin and Hamilton are particularly notable, as the All Blacks have only lost five mid-year tests against European opposition on home soil since rugby turned professional in 1995. This includes notable matches such as the 2012 Christchurch test against Ireland, the 2014 Dunedin test against England, and the 2024 Dunedin test against England.

Conclusion

While the All Blacks maintained their dominance in the series, the performance of the French team was a clear indication of their growing strength and capability. This tour marked a significant milestone in the development of the French rugby team and could be a sign of things to come in future encounters with the All Blacks.