History of rugby union matches between France and New Zealand

Last updated • 17 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The All Blacks performing a haka prior to a test match against France in 2006 Haka 2006.jpg
The All Blacks performing a haka prior to a test match against France in 2006

The National Rugby Union teams of France and New Zealand (the All Blacks) have been playing each other for over a century. The first encounter, during the historic 1905–1906 All Blacks tour of Europe and North America, which was also France's first test, took place in Paris in January 1906 and was won by New Zealand 38–8. It was not until their third meeting, in 1954, that France secured their first win over New Zealand 3–0.

Contents

France first toured New Zealand in 1961 before any of the Home Nations and the All Blacks won all three tests. The All Blacks first full tour of France was in 1977, [i] when they won one of the two tests. France first defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand on Bastille Day 1979. France achieved a first series win in New Zealand in 1994, when they won both tests. Since 2000, the two teams have contested the Dave Gallaher Trophy.

The teams World Cup history includes eight matches, the joint most for any pair of teams. They have played two tournament finals, in 1987 and 2011 (both at Eden Park and both won by New Zealand).

Overall, the All Blacks have won 48 tests against France's 15, with one match drawn. The largest winning margin in a test match between the countries was a 61–10 victory to the All Blacks at Westpac Stadium in Wellington in 2007. The most career points scored by members of either team is 92 by Andrew Mehrtens, and he also holds the record for most points in one match with 29.

Despite the vastly superior win record of New Zealand in this encounter, France has the greatest number of wins against the All Blacks of any Northern Hemisphere opponent to date. France are sometimes called the "bogey" team of New Zealand, known for having inconsistent results in regular test matches, but have proven to be fierce opponents in the knockout stage of the Rugby World Cup. All Black campaigns in The Rugby World Cup were halted by defeats to France in 1999 and 2007, and were nearly upset again in 2011 with a very narrow 8–7 victory in the final.

History

Early meetings (1905–25)

The Original All Blacks that toured the northern hemisphere and played against France in their first ever test match 1905-All-Blacks-.jpg
The Original All Blacks that toured the northern hemisphere and played against France in their first ever test match

The first-ever New Zealand tour to the Northern Hemisphere was in 1905–06. [1] It was also the first time they wore a black strip and the first time they performed the haka. [1] The team – known today as "The Original All Blacks" – played various club and national sides throughout the British Isles before taking on France on 1 January 1906. [1] This was France's first test and was held at Parc des Princes, Paris. [2] The All Blacks scored ten tries, including six in the second half, to France's two, and won 38–8. Despite the scoreline, France's two tries were more than any previous team had scored against the All Blacks on tour. [1] Commenting on the state of French rugby in their book The Complete Rugby Footballer, Original All Blacks Dave Gallaher and Billy Stead wrote: "We are strongly of the opinion that the game will spread in their country and that in the course of time they will put a team in the field which will command the utmost respect of any other." [2]

The 1924–25 All Blacks' Invincibles tour included a test against France. [ii] The teams met at the Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse on 18 January 1925. [3] Although French rugby had improved since 1906, [iii] the All Blacks still won 30–6, with France scoring two tries. All Blacks' captain Cliff Porter said of France "Your forwards gave us a lot of bother. Your three-quarters were not so good." [4]

In 1926, France lost to the New Zealand Maori. [5] Perhaps the "most celebrated Maori side in history", they undertook a seven-month 1926–27 tour of Australia, Ceylon, France, Wales and Canada, playing 38 matches, winning 29 and losing seven, with two draws. [6] In total, the Maori scored 712 points while conceding 215. [7] This was the last match between a New Zealand representative team and France for nearly three decades. In 1932 the International Rugby Football Board (IRB) expelled France from the Five Nations Championship for breaching the professionalism rules in its domestic club competition. Consequently, the All Blacks did not face France during their 1935 British Isles' tour. Although France was readmitted in 1939, the Second World War intervened, suspending international competition.

In 1946, France played two matches against a team selected from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, nicknamed the "Khaki All Blacks". [5] Despite the team not being a representative New Zealand side, they included many future All Blacks. The games took place on 10 March at Stade Colombes, Paris, and on 24 March at Wallon Stadium, Toulouse. The Khaki All Blacks won both (14–9 and 13–10). [8] [9]

Post war (1954–68)

The 1954 match at Stade Colombes, Paris, was dominated by the All Blacks who had the majority of possession and territory. [5] Despite this, France scored in the 35th minute after the ball was lost by All Blacks' half-back Keith Davis 40 metres (130 ft) from France's line. The ball was picked up by French number eight Robert Baulon who passed to Paul Labadie. Labadie then passed to French captain Jean Prat who scored a try, giving France a 3–0 lead that the All Blacks failed to close. [10] Although New Zealand relentlessly attacked the French line – and made several drop goal and penalty attempts – the French defence held, earning France their first win (3–0) over the All Blacks.

France first toured New Zealand in 1961 – before any of the Home Nations. [11] The first test at Eden Park was won 13–6 by the All Blacks after they scored two converted tries and a penalty. France's first five-eighth Pierre Albaladejo kicked all of France's points with two drop goals, prompting the New Zealanders to nickname him "Monsieur Drop". [11] [12] The second test of the tour was played at Athletic Park in Wellington. [13] The wind was very strong and neither team scored during the first half. In the second, playing into the wind, France scored a try to lead 3–0. The All Blacks' Kel Tremain responded with a try. In one of the best conversions of his career, Don Clarke kicked almost parallel to the goal-line, relying on the strong wind to gust the ball over the posts. The Blacks won 5–3. [14] Although the All Blacks won the final test in Christchurch 32–3 to take the series, the tour had a positive influence in France where it was broadcast on national television via satellite, popularising the sport beyond its traditional heartland of the southwest. [15]

The next two matches between the teams were both in Paris. The All Blacks won the first 12–3 in 1964 after tries from Ralph Caulton and Ken Gray. In the next match, in 1967, the All Blacks were coached by Fred Allen and captained by Brian Lochore; they won 21–15. [14]

In 1968, following their first Five Nations Grand Slam, France toured Australia and New Zealand. They were defeated in their test against Australia and in all three against the All Blacks. The All Blacks' side was particularly strong and won all its tests between 1965 and 1970. [14] France's touring losses presaged a string of defeats that did not end until they drew against Wales in the 1969 Five Nations (in which France finished last). [16]

Full amateur tours (1970–1994)

France achieved only their second test victory over the All Blacks in 1973 at Parc des Princes, Paris. [17] The All Blacks had defeated England, Scotland and Wales, and drawn with Ireland on their 1973 tour and France was their last test. France won 13–6, and scored two tries to nil, with two penalties the only points from the All Blacks. [17] [18] In 1977 the All Blacks made their first-ever full tour of France. France won the first test in Toulouse and the All Blacks the second in Paris. [18] France then reciprocated and toured New Zealand in 1979. This time, neutral referees were appointed for the first time. The All Blacks won the first test 23–9 at Lancaster Park. However, in the second test, France upset the All Blacks by winning 24–19 on Bastille Day at Eden Park. The victory was France's first win in New Zealand over the All Blacks. [19]

The 1980s saw many France – New Zealand tests. The first two were in 1981 when the All Blacks toured France, visiting in Toulouse and Paris; the All Blacks won both tests, 13–9 and 18–6 respectively. In 1984, France visited New Zealand for two tests. They lost the first, at Lancaster Park, 10–9 (despite repeated French drop goal attempts late in the match, nearly all in front of the posts from various distances) and the second, at Eden Park, 31–18.

In 1986, France played a one-off test in New Zealand, at Lancaster Park. Many top All Blacks were serving a two-month suspension for participating in the rebel Cavaliers tour to South Africa. The team that faced France became known as the "Baby Blacks" as all bar two of them were either making their test début or were very inexperienced. [20] The Baby Blacks upset France 18–9 in front of 24,000 spectators; the only try coming from number eight Mike Brewer. [21]

Later in 1986, the bans served, the full All Blacks toured France. They won the first test, in Toulouse, 19–7. Their next match, at Nantes, became known as "the battle of Nantes". [22] France played aggressively and tried to intimidate the All Blacks. All Black Buck Shelford had his scrotum rucked in the twentieth minute that required stitches while he was still on the field. He was later knocked out, losing several teeth in the process, and did not finish the match. [23] The aggressive display by France paid off and they won 16–3.

The following year France and the All Blacks met in the final of the inaugural Rugby World Cup. The tournament was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia and the final was held at Eden Park. The All Blacks were captained by David Kirk and went on to win their first World Cup 29–9. [24] According to the All Blacks' coach at the time, Brian Lochore, the previous year's loss in Nantes was the catalyst for their World Cup victory. [25] Shelford said of the match "We wanted to play them in the final because we wanted revenge". [26] The match also helped improve the diplomatic and political rift between France and New Zealand caused by the 1985 bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by French Secret Service agents. [27]

France toured New Zealand in 1989 and played a two test series. They lost both tests; the first 25–17 at Lancaster Park, and the second 34–20 at Eden Park. In both tests the All Blacks led at the half time break, with France responding by scoring most of their points during the first 15 minutes of the second half before the All Blacks counter-attacked to win in the last quarter. [28] The All Blacks' reciprocal tour of France came in 1990. Again two tests were played and again they were won by the All Blacks; 24–3 at Nantes, and 30–12 at the Parc de Princes. The All Blacks first-five eighth Grant Fox, dominated both matches, scoring 16 points in the first test, [29] and 22 points in the second. [30]

The next tour was of New Zealand by France in 1994. In a major upset for New Zealand rugby, [31] France took the first test 22–8 at Lancaster Park, coinciding with Frenchman Philippe Sella's hundredth match for his country. Sella said of the game "But this historic victory for my 100th cap, with a score I never imagined – that's one of my really great, great memories". [32] The second and final test on tour was at Eden Park on 3 July 1994. The All Blacks were winning 20–16 with three minutes remaining after Matthew Cooper had kicked a penalty. [25] The French counter-attacked and ran the ball the length of the field from their own in-goal area to win. The ball was handled by nine French players before the try was scored by Jean-Luc Sadourny. [33] French captain Philippe Saint-Andre called it "a counter-attack from the end of the world", [25] and it was then labelled l'essai du bout du monde (the try from the end of the world). [34] [35] The try gave France a 23–20 win and a 2–0 series win over the All Blacks. In 2003, Daily Telegraph readers voted the try the fourth best of all time in either rugby union or rugby league. [34]

Professional era (from 1995)

On 11 November 1995, France set a record when they defeated the All Blacks 22–15 at Toulouse—their third consecutive victory over the New Zealanders. A week later, on 18 November, at the Parc des Princes in Paris, the All Blacks took their revenge, inflicting a resounding 37–12 defeat. It was not until 1999 that the two teams met again, in a one-off test at Athletic Park in Wellington. The All Blacks won 54–7; at the time France's largest ever loss. [36] Tana Umaga scored three tries and Andrew Mehrtens kicked 19 points in the match. [36]

The All Blacks playing France in 2002 France All Blacks 16-11-2002.jpg
The All Blacks playing France in 2002

After their Athletic Park victory, the All Blacks were heavy favourites to win when they met France in the semi-finals of the 1999 Rugby World Cup. [37] The game was played at the neutral venue of Twickenham Stadium on 31 October 1999. The All Blacks led 24–10 seven minutes into the second half after two tries (both from Jonah Lomu). France then scored two penalties and two drop goals to first five-eighth Christophe Lamaison to reduce the All Blacks' lead to 24–22 with 25 minutes remaining. [37] Scrum-half Fabien Galthié chip kicked the ball to Christophe Dominici who then scored. [38] Another Lamaison kick set up a try for centre Richard Dourthe, which Lamaison converted, to take France into the lead, 36–24. France scored another try in the remaining five minutes, and although the All Blacks scored a last-minute try France won 43–31. Lamaison had scored 28 points, and a full house – a try, conversion, penalty and drop goal all in one match. [37] Many have called this match "the greatest game in World Cup history". [39]

The Dave Gallaher Trophy was introduced in 2000 to be contested between the two teams. It was named in memory of All Blacks captain Dave Gallaher who captained the All Blacks against France in 1906 and who died at the Battle of Passchendaele. [40] The Cup was first contested on Armistice Day (11 November) 2000. The All Blacks won 39–26 and scored two tries while Andrew Mehrtens scored nine penalties. [41] The two met again the following week and this time France won 42–33, but as only the first test counted towards the trophy the All Blacks retained it.

The countries met in one-off tests in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The 2001 test was won 37–12 by the All Blacks, the 2002 test was a 20 all draw and in 2003 the All Blacks won 31–23 at Jade Stadium. They met again in 2003 at the Rugby World Cup in Sydney. The match was a third-fourth play-off game and was won 40–13 by the All Blacks. In 2004 they met in a one-off test in Paris. The 2004 test was the first between the two teams with Graham Henry as All Blacks coach. France were 2004 Six Nations Champions, but were defeated by five tries to nil. [42] The final score was a 45–6 win to the All Blacks; a record at the time. [43] They met in France in 2006 – this time for a two-test series. The first test was played in Lyon on Armistice Day. The All Blacks defeated France 46–3 which was a record defeat for them at home. [44] This was despite the All Blacks' team not being their strongest available. [45] Following the defeat France's manager Jo Maso said that the All Blacks played the match, "for all the New Zealanders who died during the two World Wars in Europe". [46] The following week the two teams met in Paris, this time to commemorate the centennial of the first ever All Blacks versus France test. [46] Despite fielding what coach Graham Henry described as his best team, [47] the All Blacks achieved a less notable 23–11 victory. [44]

The next year France visited New Zealand for a two-test series. The final rounds of the 2006–07 Top 14 season conflicted with the tour, so France sent a test team short of 30 of their top players. [48] With their weakened squad, the team was labelled "France C" by the New Zealand media. [49] Featuring six new caps, France were defeated 42–11 in the first test at Eden Park. [48] The second test was played the following week in Wellington, and the All Blacks achieved their largest ever victory over France with a 61–10 win. [50] The defeat was France's heaviest in their history. [50]

France hosted the 2007 World Cup, and the two teams met in the tournament quarter-finals. Despite France's hosting of the tournament, the match was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The match was won by France 20–18, and involved several controversial decisions by referee Wayne Barnes, [51] who subsequently received death threats from some fans. [52] France scored one try after the sin binning of All Blacks second five-eighth Luke McAlister, [53] and another from a forward pass unseen by the referee. [54] The All Blacks were strongly criticised for not attempting a drop goal in the game's final minutes. [55] [56] Their performance was analysed by Palmerston North based company Verusco who had analysed 1,500 games since 2000. They discovered that the All Blacks made 57 tackles to France's 269, and they had 66 percent possession and 60 percent territory. The playing time, that is time the ball is in play, was the longest of any game Verusco had ever recorded. [57] An 'Independent Review of the 2007 Rugby World Cup Campaign', conducted by Russel McVeagh lawyers and SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand), found that Barnes and the touch judges had a significant impact on the result of the match. The report states that "The penalty count was 10-2 against the All Blacks, with none awarded in the second half, despite dominance in territory and possession (which statistically should result in penalties awarded to the dominant side). On anyone's account the referees and touch judges made mistakes which worked against the All Blacks." [58] Outside New Zealand and France, the focus was on the fact that, as in 1999, France had pulled off what The Guardian described as another "incredible triumph against the odds." [59]

2023 Rugby World Cup match between France and New Zealand at Stade de France. 2023 Rugby World Cup - France vs New Zealand - 2.jpg
2023 Rugby World Cup match between France and New Zealand at Stade de France.

In 2011, New Zealand hosted the Rugby World Cup. Unusually, France and New Zealand played twice at the tournament - both times at Eden Park. Both teams were in Pool A, and on September 24 New Zealand won their first encounter 37-17. New Zealand were pool winners, with France second. On either side of the draw for the knockout stage, both teams made the final on October 23. New Zealand won 8-7. The match involved several controversial decisions by referee Craig Joubert, nonetheless for the second time New Zealand won a home World Cup with France runners up.

Summary

As of November 2024, New Zealand and France have played 64 tests. The All Blacks have won 48, France 15, and one has been drawn. Only four matches have been played at neutral venues; the 1999 World Cup semi-final at Twickenham, London, the 2003 World Cup third/fourth play-off match at Stadium Australia in Sydney, and the 2007 and 2015 World Cup quarter-finals at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. New Zealand have scored considerably more points than France both in France and New Zealand, and at neutral venues - although at neutral venues France have won two of the four matches. A summary of the test match statistics can be found below. [60]

Overview

DetailsPlayedWon by
France
Won by
New Zealand
DrawnFrance pointsNew Zealand points
In France289191429695
In New Zealand314270380817
Neutral venue422089151
Overall64154818981663

Rugby World Cup matches

New Zealand and France have played eight Rugby World Cup games, more than any other pair of teams, including six play-off matches. Five have been won by New Zealand and three by France. [61] France's wins knocked New Zealand out of the 1999 and 2007 tournaments at the semi-final and quarter-final stage respectively. New Zealand's first two successful campaigns (1987 and 2011) ended with wins over France, both at Eden Park. New Zealand's other victories have come in a quarter-final (2015), a pool match (2011, again at Eden Park) and the 2003 third-place playoff.

DetailsPlayedWon by
France
Won by
New Zealand
DrawnFrance pointsNZ pointsYears
Group matches21104450 2011, 2023
Quarter-finals21103380 2007, 2015
Semi-finals11004331 1999
Bronze finals10101340 2003
Finals20201637 1987, 2011
Overall8350149238

Records

Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.

RecordFranceNew Zealand
Longest winning streak3 (26 Jun 1994–18 Nov 1995, 20 Nov 2021–present)14 (20 Jun 2009–20 Nov 2021)
Most points for
Home42 (18 November 2000)61 (9 June 2007)
Away43 (31 October 1999)62 (17 October 2015)
Largest winning margin
Home15 (20 November 2021)51 (9 June 2007)
Away14 (26 June 1994)49 (17 October 2015)

Results

No.DateVenueScoreWinnerCompetitionMatch report
11 January 1906 Parc des Princes, Paris 8–38Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand The Original All Blacks
218 January 1925 Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse 6–30Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1924–25 New Zealand tour
327 February 1954 Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes 3–0Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg  France 1953–54 New Zealand tour
422 July 1961 Eden Park, Auckland 13–6Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1961 French tour of New Zealand
55 August 1961 Athletic Park, Wellington 5–3Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
619 August 1961 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 32–3Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
78 February 1964 Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes 3–12Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1963–64 New Zealand tour
825 November 1967 Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes 15–21Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1967 New Zealand tour
913 July 1968 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 12–9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1968 French tour of New Zealand
1027 July 1968 Athletic Park, Wellington 9–3Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
1110 August 1968 Eden Park, Auckland 19–12Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
1210 February 1973 Parc des Princes, Paris 13–6Flag of France.svg  France 1972–73 New Zealand tour
1311 November 1977 Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 18–13Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1977 New Zealand tour
1419 November 1977 Parc des Princes, Paris 3–15Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
157 July 1979 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 23–9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1979 French tour of Fiji & New Zealand
1614 July 1979 Eden Park, Auckland 19–24Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
1714 November 1981 Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 9 –13Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1981 New Zealand tour
1821 November 1981 Parc des Princes, Paris 6–18Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
1916 June 1984 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 10–9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1984 French tour of New Zealand
2023 June 1984 Eden Park, Auckland 31–18Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2128 June 1986 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 18–9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1986 France tour
228 November 1986 Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 7–19Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1986 New Zealand tour of France
2315 November 1986 Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 16–3Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
2420 June 1987 Eden Park, Auckland 29–9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1987 Rugby World Cup final
2517 June 1989 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 25– 17Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1989 French tour of New Zealand
261 July 1989 Eden Park, Auckland 34–20Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
273 November 1990 Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 3–24Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1990 New Zealand tour of France
2810 November 1990 Parc des Princes, Paris 12–30Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2926 June 1994 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 8–22Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1994 French tour
303 July 1994 Eden Park, Auckland 20–23Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France NZH
3111 November 1995 Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 22–15Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1995 New Zealand tour
3218 November 1995 Parc des Princes, Paris 12–37Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
3326 June 1999 Athletic Park, Wellington 54–7Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1999 French tour
3431 October 1999 Twickenham, London, England 31–43Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1999 Rugby World Cup BBC
3511 November 2000 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 26–39Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2000 end of year test BBC
3618 November 2000 Stade Vélodrome, Marseilles 42–33Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France BBC
3730 June 2001 WestpacTrust Stadium, Wellington 37–12Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2001 French tour BBC
3816 November 2002 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 20–20 draw 2002 New Zealand tour of Europe BBC
3928 June 2003 Jade Stadium, Christchurch 31–23Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2003 French tour BBC
4020 November 2003 Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia 40–13Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2003 Rugby World Cup BBC
4127 November 2004 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 6–45Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2004 end of year rugby union tests BBC
4211 November 2006 Stade de Gerland, Lyon 3–47Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2006 end of year rugby union tests BBC
4318 November 2006 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 11–23Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand BBC
442 June 2007 Eden Park, Auckland 42–11Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2007 mid-year rugby union tests TG
459 June 2007 Westpac Stadium, Wellington 61–10Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand BBC
466 October 2007 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 18–20Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2007 Rugby World Cup BBC
4713 June 2009 Carisbrook, Dunedin 22–27Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2009 mid-year rugby union tests BBC
4820 June 2009 Westpac Stadium, Wellington 14–10Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand BBC
4928 November 2009 Stade Vélodrome, Marseilles 12–39Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2009 end of year rugby union tests BBC
5024 September 2011 Eden Park, Auckland 37–17Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2011 Rugby World Cup BBC
5123 October 2011 Eden Park, Auckland 8–7Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2011 Rugby World Cup final BBC
528 June 2013 Eden Park, Auckland 23–13Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2013 French tour to New Zealand ABC
5315 June 2013 Rugby League Park, Christchurch 30–0Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand BBC
5422 June 2013 Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth 24–9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand BBC
559 November 2013 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 19–26Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2013 end-of year test TG
5617 October 2015 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 62–13Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-final
5726 November 2016 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 19–24Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2016 end-of year test
5811 November 2017 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 18–38Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2017 end-of year test
599 June 2018 Eden Park, Auckland 52–11Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2018 French tour to New Zealand
6016 June 2018 Westpac Stadium, Wellington 26–13Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
6123 June 2018 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 49–14Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
6220 November 2021 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 40–25Flag of France.svg  France 2021 end-of year test BBC
638 September 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 27–13Flag of France.svg  France 2023 Rugby World Cup BBC
6416 November 2024 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 30–29Flag of France.svg  France 2024 Autumn International BBC

XV results

Below is a list of matches that France and New Zealand opted not to give full test match status.

No.DateVenueScoreWinnerCompetitionMatch report
114 November 2017 Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon 23–28Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand XV 2017 Autumn International

List of series

PlayedWon by
France
Won by
New Zealand
Drawn
171106
YearFranceNew ZealandSeries winner Dave Gallaher Trophy
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1961 03Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand N/A
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1968 03Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of France.svg 1977 11 draw
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1979 11 draw
Flag of France.svg 1981 02Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1984 02Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of France.svg 1986 11 draw
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1989 02Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of France.svg 1990 02Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1994 20Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of France.svg 1995 11 draw
Flag of France.svg 2000 11 drawFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of France.svg 2006 02Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2007 02Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2009 11 drawFlag of France.svg  France
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2013 03Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2018 03Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand

See also

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Luka Connor is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns 2021 Rugby World Cup squad that won their sixth title. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition; she also plays for the Bay of Plenty Volcanix in the Farah Palmer Cup and club rugby for Rangataua.

References

Notes

^i : A full tour, rather than a tour, is when the All Blacks tour just France, instead of visiting France as an extension of a tour to the Home Nations. The 1977 All Blacks tour to France consisted of nine matches, including two Tests. [62]
^ii : The 1924–25 Invincibles won all 32 matches, including four Tests, that they played throughout the British Isles and France.
^iii : France was admitted into the Five Nations in 1910, and achieved a win over Scotland in 1911 and Ireland in 1920, [63] [64] and in 1922 drew a match with England. [65] [66] [67]

Citations

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  2. 1 2 "8th All Black Test: 88th All Black Game". allblacks.com. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  3. 31st All Blacks Test
  4. Potter (1961), p. 175.
  5. 1 2 3 Potter (1961), p. 102.
  6. BBC News (June 2003)
  7. "New Zealand Maori Rugby Tour"
  8. Whatman (2005), p. 139.
  9. "Postwar revolutionaries"
  10. Potter (1961), p. 103.
  11. 1 2 Palenski (2003), p. 51.
  12. "105th All Black Test"
  13. "106th All Black Test"
  14. 1 2 3 Palenski (2003), p. 52.
  15. Dine (2001), p. 131.
  16. Dine (2001), p. 154.
  17. 1 2 "158th All Black Test"
  18. 1 2 Palenski (2003), p. 53.
  19. Palenski (2003), p. 55.
  20. "GordonMacpherson"
  21. "220th All Black Test"
  22. Palenski (2003), p. 61.
  23. Quinn (2005); Soneji (2002)
  24. "231st All Black Test"
  25. 1 2 3 Smith (2006)
  26. Kayes (2006)
  27. Dine (2001), p. 136.
  28. The Times (1989)
  29. Le Guernigou (1990)
  30. Mehaffey (1990)
  31. "Ton-up Sella joy as France shock All Blacks". Agence France-Presse. 26 June 1994.
  32. Trevelyan, Mark (26 June 1994). "Sella ranks All Black victory among his greatest". Reuters.
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  34. 1 2 Gallagher (2003)
  35. "Vidéos. Les plus beaux essais des Bleus face aux Blacks". L'Est Républicain (in French). 25 November 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  36. 1 2 "326th All Black Test"
  37. 1 2 3 CNN/SI (1999)
  38. BBC News (1999)
  39. BBC News (September 2003)
  40. "Gallaher Cup"
  41. "344th All Black Test"
  42. Short (2004)
  43. "392nd All Black Test"
  44. 1 2 "All Blacks down France 23-11 in Paris". theage.com.au. Melbourne. 19 November 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  45. Westerby (2006)
  46. 1 2 "Laporte ..."
  47. Pryor, Matthew (18 November 2006). "New Zealand's best men seize opportunity against France". The Times. p. 103.
  48. 1 2 Barclay (2007)
  49. "France accuse All Blacks of disrespect". iol.co.za. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  50. 1 2 "NZ inflict ..."
  51. Gower (2007)
  52. BBC News (2007)
  53. "World Cup ..."
  54. "Refs Selection Panel Stands Behind Barnes Despite Errors". New Zealand Press Association. 17 October 2007.
  55. "Inquest begins into shock All Blacks exit". nzherald.co.nz. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  56. Rattue (2007)
  57. Lampp (2007)
  58. "Rugby: World Cup review released"
  59. Fotheringham, William (October 8, 2007). "France Postpone Party to Avoid Another Hangover". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
  60. "NZL -vs- FRA"
  61. "Team records: World Cup matches sorted by total played against each opposition". ESPNScrum. ESPNScrum. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  62. "All Blacks Player Profiles..."
  63. "France vs Scotland > Games Won"
  64. "France vs Ireland > Games Won"
  65. "France vs England > Games Drawn"
  66. 1906-1920: Des premiers...
  67. 1921-1930: Les Bleus...

Sources