"Les Bleus vs All Blacks" - Top 5 Moments in France vs New Zealand Matches

France and the All Blacks have one of the longest rivalries in international rugby, with a storied history that dates all the way back to New Years Day, 1906. These two titans of the game have battled it out for over a century, with their 62 total matches generating some truly unforgettable moments.

There is no doubt that the upcoming clash in the Stade de France will be equally as iconic, when the three-time World Champions take on the host nation. Both sides are amongst the four favourites (with Ireland and South Africa) to win the Web Ellis Trophy, and so, with the 2023 Rugby World Cup curtain raiser now just eight days away, here are the top five moments from France vs New Zealand matches.

The original and best for the All Blacks. In 1987, New Zealand and France met in the final of the inaugural Rugby World Cup, with the All Blacks awarded the honour of becoming the first ever winners of the Web Ellis Trophy. The legendary All Blacks flanker Michael Jones put in a stunning performance, and has the unique accolade of being the first man to score a try in a Rugby World Cup Final.

Regarded as the star performer of the 1987 Rugby World Cup, Jones had battled valiantly for the All Blacks all throughout the competition. He made history in the opening pool stage contest against Italy, by diving over to score the first ever Rugby World Cup try, so it was only fitting to have him start off the scoring in the competition's first ever final.

Jones' try settled the nerves for the All Blacks, before second half scores from captain David Kirk and flying winger John Kirwan, took the match out of sight for Les Bleus. The fine kicking of Grant Fox added 17 extra points from the boot, as New Zealand built a record-setting margin of victory for a Rugby World Cup Final. The 29-9 win established a 20-point deficit that has stood the test of time, albeit due to France having exhausted their ranks in the previous semi-final win over Australia.

France entered the 1987 final beaten and bruised, and ran out of steam after battling back from trailing three times against the Wallabies. France's finest hour in '87 was that 30-24 comeback victory, with their players depleted for the first ever final. However, there can only be one first world champion, with the All Blacks claiming the honours on home soil, some 36 years ago.

The unforgiving bounce of the rugby ball can make or break an attacking opportunity, with so many chances squandered after an awkward pop-up leads to a spilt ball. However, no such mistake was made by the late, great French winger Christophe Dominici, in the semi-final of the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Just before the hour mark, the scores were poised at 24-22 in favour of the All Blacks, when the now Head Coach of Les Blues, Fabien Galthie, sent a box kick down-field, and deep into All Blacks territory. Dominici was the sole Frenchman who gave chase, when the ball bounced out of the path of covering New Zealand fullback Jeff Wilson. Dominici collected the ball in an excellent showing of skill, before outpacing All Blacks captain Taine Randell on his way through to score.

This try turned the momentum of the match, after the first half was dominated by Jonah Lomu's line-breaking carries. The powerful winger had scored both of New Zealand's tries earlier in the semi-final, and looked set to take his side through to the 1999 Rugby World Cup's pinnacle stage. Yet it was Lomu's opposite man who turned the tide, with Dominici re-igniting France's fire to put Les Bleus in front.

What followed was one way traffic for France, as the All Blacks failed to battle back after going behind. France followed up shortly after with a try from outside centre Richard Dourthe, before right-winger Phillippe Bernat-Salles built an unobtainable lead in the matches' closing moments. Dominici sadly passed away in 2020, and he will in no doubt be remembered for scoring the all-important try, which took the wind out the sails from another unforgettable legend of the game, in the late, great Jonah Lomu.

France have historically prided themselves of attacking with a 'jouer' flair, and holding firm with strong rear-guard defence. However, Les Bleus came undone in the run-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, during their two-match series against the All Blacks, that French fans have been trying to erase from memory.

After an embarrassing 42-11 defeat in the opening test, it could not seem possible for things to get any worse for France in the second fixture a week later. However, things undoubtedly went further downhill for Les Bleus, with Head Coach Bernard Laporte close to the firing line just four months away from the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The second test saw France again soundly beaten by the All Blacks, with Joe Rokocoko taking the headlines for a first half brace.

In a performance that optimised the then pitfall of French rugby, Rokocoko was able to cruise in for two tries in the first 40 minutes, and helped build a staggering 30-3 lead at half-time. The All Blacks hit top gear, with nine total tries shutting out France for what still stands as the biggest margin of victory between the two opponents. The additional tries came from Anton Oliver, Byron Kelleher, Leon MacDonald, Isaia Toeava, Jerry Collins, Kevin Mealamu and Nick Evans.

The All Blacks set the tone for their 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign, which saw them reach top spot in Pool C. Comfortable wins over Italy, Romania, Portugal and Scotland poised little threat, as the All Blacks were catapulted into the quarter-finals, for a re-union against a struggling France. However, all would not go to plan when New Zealand donned the now infamous grey kit...

After the dominance throughout the Summer, the stage was set for what many expected to be another routine All Blacks victory over France. However, this match has gone down to live in New Zealand rugby infamy, with the grey away kit burned across the country after this shocking upset. All Blacks centre Luke McAlister led from the front, hitting the highest highs and lowest lows as momentum swung repeatedly in Cardiff.

After scoring the All Blacks' first try of the match, McAlister later served 10 minutes in the sin bin for a controversial obstruction. After an exhausting rollercoaster for the former Sale Shark, the opportunity arose for McAlister to secure a late triumph, and book New Zealand a spot in the semi-finals.

With the clock counting down for the final minutes at the Principality Stadium, McAlister stepped up to slot a drop goal, and salvage a late win for his side. However, he failed to generate enough power in his effort from the half way line, as the ball sunk below the crossbar, along with any remaining chance of a dramatic All Blacks victory. It was a cruel ending to McAlister's Rugby World Cup campaign, as the centre had been performing excellently for New Zealand with his extended role in the All Blacks' midfield.

France were able to withstand any additional pressure in the match's closing moments, and hold out on their two-point lead for a historic victory in Wales. Tries from France's workhorse captain Thierry Dusatoir and generational talent Yannick Jauzion helped towards Les Bleus' points tally, whilst Lionel Beauxis and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde slotting the all important points from the tee.

5. Stephen Donald Cancels Fishing Trip to Catch Rugby World Cup Glory

Some 24 years on from the inaugural tournament, New Zealand and France once again met in Auckland's Eden Park, to go to war in the Rugby World Cup Final. However, an unfortunate groin injury to All Blacks talisman Dan Carter had thinned out the ranks, with Aaron Cruden the only viable option in Steve Hansen's camp to start at fly half. The former Hurricanes and Chiefs man was selected to lead the line, having played understudy to the legendary 'DC' for the pool stages.

After the quarter-final victory over Argentina, Hansen made an iconic phone call to Bath's newest signing Stephen Donald. The fly half answered the phone whilst fishing on the Waikato river, and ended his trip early to join the All Blacks camp, ahead of the competition's closing stages. Donald was selected amongst the replacements for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final, with Cruden again picked to lead the line after impressing in the semi-final win over Australia.

The match itself was one for the purists, with France and New Zealand slogging it out to gain the upper hand at Eden Park. Tony Woodcock broke the deadlock for the All Blacks, yet Cruden failed to convert his efforts after quarter of an hour's play. Donald was called into action sooner than expected, after Cruden suffered an injury after just 34 minutes. Donald rose to the occassion, yet France battled back to regain the lead early in the second half. Thierry Dusatoir once again scored a try against the All Blacks, with Francois Trinh-Duc converting the extras.

In a match with presented few opportunities for openings, Donald made good on his chance to slot the match-winning penalty for the All Blacks. Just a fortnight before he was whitebait fishing off the Eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, and now he had kicked his country to the top of the mountain for Rugby World Cup glory. The penalty was slotted just six minutes after the break, with New Zealand able to withstand the French onslaught for an additional 34 exhausting minutes.

An iconic story that lives on fondly for the All Blacks, as Donald's penalty was the decisive difference for their second Rugby World Cup title. This win also marked the the first of two back-to-back World Cup wins for Richie McCaw's New Zealand, as the All Blacks enjoyed the most dominant period of any international rugby side, throughout the history of the modern era.