Well, that didn’t take long for a response.
A week after scraping home against Les Bleus to make a mockery of the complaints over Fabien Galthie’s next generation of stars, the All Blacks have punished France on Saturday night in Wellington, winning 43-17.
Scott Robertson’s side delivered a commanding first-half performance to lead 29-3, before both sides scored two converted tries in the second half as France ensured they left the Cake Tin with something to be encouraged by.
But the victory ensured the All Blacks secured the Dave Gallaher Cup for the first time in seven years after the French had won the three previous encounters before landing on New Zealand shores.
After delivering a scrappy, error-ridden performance in Dunedin, where the All Blacks were caught on the hop by a sprightly French side and had three tries overturned by the TMO, Robertson’s side were much more clinical in their second Test of the year.
“The boys fronted up,” said acting skipper Ardie Savea, who scored and was once again brilliant on both sides of the ball.
“This week we talked about our defence and we wanted to bring fire – and I thought we did that in most parts of the game.
“Still credit to the French, they never give up, they’re always there. I’m proud of our boys for sticking in there and doing a good job tonight.”
Rieko Ioane celebrates after scoring against France at Sky Stadium on July 12, 2025 in Wellington. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
French winger Emilien Gailleton said his side were “disappointed with the score” after last week’s cracking Test under the roof.
“We wanted to improve much more today,” he said. “We’re really disappointed, but we want to come back next week.”
The All Blacks’ set-piece was dominant, passes stuck, deception was created and Robertson left with a spring in his step after another slow start to their international season.
“I’m pretty pleased,” the former Crusaders coach said.
“We wanted to make the Dave Galleher family really proud, and he would have been proud of that performance. A lot of effort, a lot of care and some really good footy.
“We left a few points out there we felt, but defensively we were really good.
“The French, again, they’ve got something about them, they just stay in it and played really well.”
After their slow start in Dunedin, the All Blacks’ big guns stood up.
Savea was awesome, Jordie Barrett was strong in the midfield while the entire All Blacks pack, including the impressive Fabien Holland, stood up in the opening 60 minutes. Replacement back Timoci Tavatavanawai also made an impression off the bench.
After Beauden Barrett’s early penalty, All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard caught the French napping down the short side from a lineout in the 14th minute to get the home side off to the perfect start.
The visitors got on the scoreboard shortly after when Nolann Le Garrec banged over a simple three in the 20th minute.
But three tries in 13 minutes saw the All Blacks blow the game opener as Savea, Codie Taylor and Tupou Vai’i scored in quick succession. Vai’i’s try was particularly special as the blindside flanker stormed onto a ball after Savea had barged his way through the French defence before the home side offloaded at will.
France hit back after half time through Leo Barre, but the All Blacks snuffed out any hope of a comeback as Will Jordan continued his tryscoring form before Rieko Ioane finished superbly out wide.
Lock Joshua Brennan scored the final try of the evening in tight.
