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Tue 12 Nov 2013 | 08:49
New Zealand hold off late charge by spirited France side

16
Comments

New Zealand held off a late France surge at the Stade de France, hanging on to maintain their unbeaten record and leave with a 26-19 victory over Les Blues. Winger Charles Piutau scored a try and set up Kieran Read with a brilliant piece of play.

Both Dan Carter and Morgan Parra kicked 14 points for their respective sides, but it was the two tries to one of New Zealand that edged them ahead, withstanding a spirited late French effort.

France had their tails up with a series of scrums in the final minutes, but they couldn't force their way over and snatch a draw. Manager Philippe Saint-Andre felt that it could have been different.

"The players are sad because we had all the ingredients for a victory but we lacked accuracy, especially in the first half when we should have been ahead," he said to reporters post match.

"We have courage and desire, but it's the little details that make the difference. We were good in the scrum, apart from the last one, when we're penalised.

"We have the character. At some point we were 14 points behind and we find the resources to come back in the game and we almost snatched the draw. It shows this team has courage," he added.

France meet Tonga next, while New Zealand have a big meeting with England at Twickenham.

Posted By: Grant Constable

16 Comments

  • fuji
    1:49 AM 15/11/2013

    Frenchie, I owe you an apology. It was an unfair comment that I hastly made. i also apolygies to everyone that may have been offended by my comments about France. France is a great team and so is South Africa, England, Australia. There has been some great games lately which has been long time overdue.
    All the best to England and the All Blacks, Give us another great game!

  • fuji
    2:53 AM 14/11/2013

    Thats right Frenchie, "Chouly AGAIN commits a stupid and criminal mistake using his hands". The French are the Biggest Cheats in the modern game ! And to all of you who think the All blacks are cheaters. I will pray for you all that you may witness a great game when one is played. That was a great game. The French lost, All Blacks won. The All Blacks are playing well. All Blacks to beat the Poms, Handsomely!!!

  • 11:00 PM 13/11/2013

    NZ are rightfully tired and at the end of their year, whereas England are relatively fresh. That being said, the red rose has not been exactly setting the rugby world afire in the last two matches and NZ have looked awesome all season. NZ by 5.

  • 10:57 PM 13/11/2013

    Agreed, no need at all to leave Reid and help with the tackle, which was being made by two other defenders. He stays on his man and it's just another ruck. But it's a split decision made at high speed, maybe he thinks he can steal it at the ruck, so you have to credit the centre.

    All this being said, doesn't Reid look like the coolest guy to play with? A RWC winner and still celebrating a great pass like a little kid.

  • frenchie
    6:33 PM 13/11/2013

    The French lacked some experience also: Chouly (8) leaving the maul too early, going solo (Huget was left alone on the wing) and being turned on the try line. Then in the last scrum when Chouly again commits a stupid and criminal mistake using his hands.

  • kadova
    10:42 PM 12/11/2013

    Agreed. England won the match against NZ last year, and they suddenly play better against the ABs ?
    I bet you the ABs will do their best to erase that win.
    Their press is complaining that they were not at their best agaisnt France.

  • facepalm
    10:18 PM 12/11/2013

    "England always play better against NZ".

    I..err...what?

  • moddeur
    9:16 PM 12/11/2013

    A bit in front, not so blantantly offside. The French commentators didn't even mention it during the game. But on the 2nd NZ try there is only one person to blame: Huget (French winger who gets sucked in and leaves 2 opponents on his empty wing). Maybe the Blacks are beatable after all :)

  • moddeur
    9:13 PM 12/11/2013

    That's experience for you. First scrum the tight head goes down, next scrum the loose head goes down, etc (opposite of wherever the referee is).

    Anyhow a good game of rugby, the referee was quite alright, apart for the odd bad call here and there (on both sides).

  • aj_capote
    8:19 PM 12/11/2013

    I think Eng vs NZ will be closer than the doom merchants are making out. England will step up, they always do - every nation has teams that they play better against. Wales ALWAYs play better vs England for example. England always play better against NZ. So I think the energy and intensity of the first half vs Argentina will be sustained for longer.

    Very frustrated that players are falling out with such niggling injuries - is it me or is there a surprisingly long injury list currently for England? And on an aside, why is it every season Leicester loose half their squad to injury and a couple to season-ending injuries? What kind of pre-season training do they do?!

    So it's frustrating that we'll likely have a rookie at loosehead. Corbisiero is a huge weapon for us. One of these days someone is going to have to re-write Sheridan's contract - it's still a travesty that a talent like him isn't playing internationally.

    I think the game will be close. NZ will bag it but it certainly won't be a one-sided score. England's sheer intensity and muscle in the pack/breakdown will help the backs get into the game.

  • 45678
    8:05 PM 12/11/2013

    I agree that officials are mostly good. From an England supporter view, you are damned if you get a bit of fortune. not every other team comes in for the same vitriolic criticism for minor infringements like being in front of a kicker. We get a solid week of negative press

  • joeythelemur
    7:57 PM 12/11/2013

    Wow, an awful lot of cheating accusations flying here today.

  • bigjim
    6:20 PM 12/11/2013

    You know...with all the issues with the new scrummaging laws, how the hell did the ref miss the French Loosehead prop literally turn in at a 90 degree angle in the first scrum on the video?

  • 45678
    1:17 PM 12/11/2013

    Agree, well in front. If he had a rose on his shirt we would be hearing much more about biased officials killing the game / affecting the result, but as it's the kiwis we'll just ignore it

  • flanker2712
    12:01 PM 12/11/2013

    Sorry, I meant 1st try, not winning try.

  • flanker2712
    11:59 AM 12/11/2013

    Referees and touch judges are usually pretty good with spotting players ahead of the kicker. Strange that they were missed in both the winning try for NZ and the winning try for SA at the weekend. I'm not complaining, I'm not bitter, I understand its part of sport... but given what some referees are holding up play for these days to go to TV ref, these incidents seemed a little strange.

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