All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton played host to the third and final Test match of the 2025 Lipovitan-D series against France, where the All Blacks have squeezed past France, 29-19.

It wasn’t pretty, and at times the All Blacks were far from their best, but they fought their way to a series sweep in Hamilton.

The All Blacks will now have a couple of weeks off before the Rugby Championship gets underway in mid-August.

The opening three minutes of action at FMG Stadium Waikato were brutal, with the All Blacks forcing the French to make a number of tackles inside their half.

France started to get into the game just after the five-minute mark, after Samisoni Taukei’aho’s first lineout attempt was way off the mark.

France earned themself a penalty just outside the All Blacks’ 22, before rolling their sleeves up at maul time. Just as you thought the All Blacks may have stopped the maul just shy of the line, Nolann Le Garrec darted short side and found his way to the line.

Le Garrec converted his own try, giving France a 7-0 lead after 10 minutes.

France found themselves in another try-scoring opportunity after the All Blacks tried an audacious chip kick inside their 22, which didn’t pay off.

Ardie Savea’s kick was easily retrieved by the French defender, before Anton Lienert-Brown was penalised for not releasing.

Le Garrec made no mistake from out in front, giving France the 10-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The home side finally were able to find some space in behind the France defensive line, this time through a fantastic box kick from Cortez Ratima who identified the space.

All Blacks winger Will Jordan showed his pace to be the first to the ball, scooping it up to go in close to the posts.

Damian McKenzie converted, getting the All Blacks back into the game at 10-7.

The away side was hot on attack inside the All Blacks 22, before first-five Antoine Hastoy decided to take a drop goal from right in front, which was slotted straight down the middle.

The restart was quickly recovered by the All Blacks, who were then able to work their way deep inside the France 22-meter line. Sevu Reece had a couple of quick carries, before Samipeni Finau was held up over the line by a last ditch France tackle.

The away side were penalised shortly after the All Blacks began to gain forward momentum, for impeding at the ruck, and the All Blacks decided to take the three points right out in front, reducing France’s winning margin to only three, 13-10.

Le Garrec continued France’s tactic of getting points from close to every visit inside the All Blacks 22, successfully kicking a penalty with just under eight minutes to go in the first half.

Just before half time, standout France loose forward Mickaël Guillard found himself in perfect jackling position near half way, managing to win an important penalty for France before half time.

Le Garrec carried on his perfect night with the boot, slotting one from close to halfway, extending France’s lead to nine.

After close to three minutes with ball in hand, the All Blacks were finally able to break through the resolute France defence through a slick backline move involving McKenzie and Lienert-Brown.

Lienert-Brown was the one who punched through the gap, sliding his way over the line to score the All Blacks’ second try of the evening, on the stroke of halftime.

McKenzie converted, closing the gap to only two.

HT: 19-17 to France.

The French started the second half with a hiss and a roar, dominating the opening stages before Hastoy once again tried a drop goal, but this time it sailed wide of the posts.

The All Blacks looked in for all money with the forward momentum they got from a lineout just inside France’s 22, but it was Pierre Bochaton who managed to hold Fabian Holland up over the line.

Territory

23%

20%

22%

35%

57%

Territory

43%

The next 15 minutes of the match were back and forth between the two teams before the ball fell into Jordan’s hands.

Jordan sprinted towards the corner, cut back in, which resulted in France giving away a penalty inside their 22.

The All Blacks then spread it wide through Jordie Barrett and Ruben Love, before McKenzie put an inch-perfect grubber kick in behind the France defence. Reece chased, stripped the ball, which meant it landed in the hands of Kirifi who dived over the line.

McKenzie’s sideline conversion went wide of the posts, keeping the Kiwis’ lead to only three, 22-19.

France had a wonderful opportunity to hit back almost immediately, as Killian Tixeront headed towards the corner, before Barrett stopped a clear try by dragging the French attacker into touch.

In a bold decision with just under fifteen minutes to go, the All Blacks decided to go to the corner instead of taking the three from 30 meters out. The decision didn’t pay off, as the French defenders were able to hold Dalton Papali’i up over the line.

The All Blacks spent the next ten minutes inside the France half, battling away and searching for the killer blow, but France’s defence held strong.

Barrett broke through the France defence with a world-class fend, before finding the debutant, Brodie McAlister, who ran a superb support line to score on debut.

McKenzie converted from in front, extending the All Blacks’ lead to 29-19 with under five minutes to go.

FT: 29-19 to the All Blacks over France.

The All Blacks will travel to Argentina in a couple of weeks to start their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign, with the first of two Test matches in Argentina being played on August 17 in Cordoba.