France lay down World Cup marker with thumping win over New Zealand
It was the All Blacks’ first pool-phase defeat in World Cup historical past and so they might have few complaints.
Although the sport by no means took off as a real spectacle at Stade de France, it was all in regards to the end result as Les Bleus prevailed via second-half tries by wing Damian Penaud and substitute Melvyn Jaminet, plus 17 factors from full-back Thomas Ramos.
Wing Mark Telea scored two tries for New Zealand, with fly-half Richie Mo’unga kicking a penalty. While New Zealand are nonetheless odds-on to safe a quarter-final place from Pool A, France’s success despatched an instantaneous message of their world title intent.
New Zealand suffered a late damage blow when captain Sam Cane was dominated out.
The All Blacks introduced simply 45 minutes earlier than kick-off at Stade de France that flanker Cane would miss the heavyweight conflict, though they didn’t specify his damage.
Number eight Ardie Savea took over as skipper, with Dalton Papalii shifting from blindside to openside flanker and Tupou Vaa’i being promoted to the beginning XV.
Despite the lack of Cane, New Zealand confirmed no signal of it unsettling them as they went forward after simply 93 seconds when full-back Beauden Barrett’s precision kick was gathered by Telea for the opening attempt.
Although Ramos kicked a penalty shortly afterwards, Les Blues struggled to settle and hooker Julien Marchand was compelled off injured after 13 minutes.
A second Ramos penalty nudged France forward, however Mo’unga rapidly cancelled that out forward of a water-break as temperatures nudged 28 levels at virtually 10pm native time.
Ramos accomplished his penalty hat-trick 12 minutes earlier than half-time as France claimed a 9-8 interval lead.
New Zealand started the second interval with an instantaneous assertion of intent as skipper Savea’s kick was gathered by wing Will Jordan earlier than centre Rieko Ioane’s very good lengthy move discovered Telea, who sprinted over for his second attempt.
Back got here France, although, when fly-half Matthieu Jalibert’s half-break arrange Penaud for an impressive attempt, and Ramos’ wide-angled conversion made it 16-13.
Jordan was proven a yellow card by referee Jaco Peyper for an unlawful aerial problem on Ramos, which was additionally referred to to the ‘bunker’ earlier than remaining as a sin-binning solely.
Ramos’ fourth profitable penalty opened up a six-point hole inside the ultimate quarter, and one other profitable kick seven minutes from time sealed the deal as France triumphed 27-13 on the again of Jaminet’s late landing.