A thrilling encounter between France and New Zealand unfolded at the Stade de France, showcasing skill, power, and relentless drama. In a sold-out Saturday night clash, the home team emerged victorious by a narrow 30-29 margin, thrilling the fans with a contest that kept everyone on edge until the final whistle.
Antoine Dupont, making his second appearance for France since his stint at the Paris Olympics, showed flashes of brilliance despite signs of rust. Meanwhile, Thomas Ramos was a standout performer, delivering a flawless kicking display, converting six out of six and contributing 15 vital points.
New Zealand’s Ardie Savea, as always, was a commanding presence on the field, but it was France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey whose speed and determination made the ultimate difference. Ramos opened the scoring with a confident penalty from halfway, but the All Blacks quickly struck back. A powerful run by Savea set up Peter Lakai for the first try of the match, giving the visitors an early edge.
The All Blacks, under head coach Scott Robertson, executed a plan to disrupt Dupont’s rhythm effectively. This strategy bore fruit when Cam Roigard intercepted a risky offload by Grégory Alldritt, sprinting across the try line to extend New Zealand’s lead. France managed to respond before halftime, with debutant Romain Buros finishing a clinical move to score his first international try. However, concerns lingered for the hosts as they trailed by seven points and had already missed 17 tackles by the break.
The second half saw a revitalized French side, likely spurred on by a stern halftime talk. Paul Boudenhent powered over from a driving maul, and Ramos added the extras to level the score. Momentum shifted dramatically when Ramos showcased his game intelligence, threading a precise grubber kick that Bielle-Biarrey chased down to score. Suddenly, France transformed a deficit into a seven-point lead, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The drama intensified as Damien McKenzie came off the bench for New Zealand, landing three penalties that kept the All Blacks within striking distance. Ramos countered with another penalty of his own, maintaining France’s narrow lead. The tension escalated in the final moments when Ofa Tu’ungafasi was penalized for a high tackle, allowing Ramos to extend the margin. Yet, McKenzie struck back again, reducing the gap to a single point with just minutes remaining.
In a decisive moment, another Ramos kick-through sparked a blistering foot race between Bielle-Biarrey and Savea. Though France was eventually penalized, the territorial gain allowed them to hold off the All Blacks’ final assault and secure a hard-fought win.
Savea reflected on the defeat, expressing frustration at missed opportunities and unforced errors that let France back into the game. Despite dominating parts of the match, the All Blacks were unable to close it out, a testament to the resilience and clinical edge of their opponents.
France’s Thibaud Flament highlighted the significance of this win, their third consecutive victory over New Zealand, as a promising step towards their ambitions for the 2027 World Cup. The victory marked a fresh start for the French team, demonstrating their ability to adapt under pressure and finish strongly against one of the world’s most formidable teams.
