The All Blacks secured a 3-0 series victory against France in Hamilton, winning 29-19 after being behind at half time.
A mix of France starting the game with a flourish and New Zealand starting slow meant that Nolann Le Garrec scored 16 points in the first 40, with an Antoine Hastoy drop goal representing the other three of France's 19 points in the first period. The hosts did manage to stay in the game thanks to Anton Lienert-Brown's score after the clock had gone red.
It was a much different game in the second 40. Scott Robertson's side stepped up a gear and really got going, upping the tempo and remaining on the front foot for almost the entirety of the half. That dominance paid dividends and two unanswered tries from Du'Plessis Kirifi and Luke McAlister saved the All Blacks' blushes and ensured their whitewash series win.
15. Ruben Love – 7
Looked a threat the majority of the times he touched the ball, mixing in some very well-weighted kicks into midfield with dangerous runs. Stood out when the All Blacks were at their weakest but grew into the game.
Looked a threat the majority of the times he touched the ball, mixing in some very well-weighted kicks into midfield with dangerous runs. Stood out when the All Blacks were at their weakest but grew into the game.
14. Will Jordan – 7
Added to his obscene try-scoring record after chasing down a well-weighted kick and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. However, aside from his score, he didn’t manage to produce a lot of end product.
Added to his obscene try-scoring record after chasing down a well-weighted kick and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. However, aside from his score, he didn’t manage to produce a lot of end product.
13. Anton Lienert-Brown – 7
Defensively, Lienert-Brown put in a couple of big tackles and did well. He also scored a try late in the second half, which brought the All Blacks right back into a game they could have been out of by the break.
Defensively, Lienert-Brown put in a couple of big tackles and did well. He also scored a try late in the second half, which brought the All Blacks right back into a game they could have been out of by the break.
12. Quinn Tupaea – 6.5
Came off after 55 minutes and was one of the better performers for his team across the board. Was individually strong, but his partnership with Lienert-Brown doesn’t seem to be shining as much as Scott Robertson would like—largely due to how similar the two centres are.
Came off after 55 minutes and was one of the better performers for his team across the board. Was individually strong, but his partnership with Lienert-Brown doesn’t seem to be shining as much as Scott Robertson would like—largely due to how similar the two centres are.
11. Sevu Reece – 6
Showed some hustle, but overall wasn’t massively in the game and didn’t get hugely involved offensively.
Showed some hustle, but overall wasn’t massively in the game and didn’t get hugely involved offensively.
10. Damian McKenzie – 6.5
Not his best first half, with some poor judgment and tactical kicking, but he grew into the game in the second. His kick-through forced the mistake that gave the All Blacks a 22–19 lead, which they never relinquished. A mixed bag, but McKenzie will be happy with his second half.
Not his best first half, with some poor judgment and tactical kicking, but he grew into the game in the second. His kick-through forced the mistake that gave the All Blacks a 22–19 lead, which they never relinquished. A mixed bag, but McKenzie will be happy with his second half.
9. Cortez Ratima – 6.5
His perfectly weighted kick set up Jordan’s try. Overall, he executed the box-kicking game decently but sometimes was guilty of making the wrong decisions. Not at his best.
His perfectly weighted kick set up Jordan’s try. Overall, he executed the box-kicking game decently but sometimes was guilty of making the wrong decisions. Not at his best.
1. Ethan de Groot – 6
Pretty unremarkable. He put in a shift and worked hard but didn’t really have much to show for it. Not the worst, not the best. Came off early, around the 45-minute mark.
Pretty unremarkable. He put in a shift and worked hard but didn’t really have much to show for it. Not the worst, not the best. Came off early, around the 45-minute mark.
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho – 6.5
Carried well enough and was active around the park, but France defended the lineout well, which slightly dents his rating.
Carried well enough and was active around the park, but France defended the lineout well, which slightly dents his rating.
3. Tyrel Lomax – 6.5
Brought experience to a relatively weak All Blacks side. Like the rest of the front row, he did his job without excelling.
Brought experience to a relatively weak All Blacks side. Like the rest of the front row, he did his job without excelling.
4. Patrick Tuipulotu – 6
Lost the ball just short of the line at a crucial moment late on, though it didn’t have a major impact. Had some physical runs, but overall, not as effective as he’d have hoped.
Lost the ball just short of the line at a crucial moment late on, though it didn’t have a major impact. Had some physical runs, but overall, not as effective as he’d have hoped.
5. Fabian Holland – 6.5
Middle-of-the-road showing after a great first two Tests. Barely made an impact but made no major errors. Solid.
Middle-of-the-road showing after a great first two Tests. Barely made an impact but made no major errors. Solid.
6. Samipeni Finau – 7
One of the better performers for the All Blacks, mixing strong tackling with a few good runs.
One of the better performers for the All Blacks, mixing strong tackling with a few good runs.
7. Du'Plessis Kirifi – 7
Latched onto a French mistake to score his first Test try right on the line. Aside from that, fairly average.
Latched onto a French mistake to score his first Test try right on the line. Aside from that, fairly average.
8. Ardie Savea – 6.5
A massively mixed bag. His first half was far from his best and included several errors, but he stepped it up in the second and was a true leader. Made some huge runs and won a vital penalty on his own line with 20 minutes left. This rating might be slightly harsh, but it's reflective of the high standards he’s set for himself.
A massively mixed bag. His first half was far from his best and included several errors, but he stepped it up in the second and was a true leader. Made some huge runs and won a vital penalty on his own line with 20 minutes left. This rating might be slightly harsh, but it's reflective of the high standards he’s set for himself.
Replacements – 7
The tempo noticeably increased when Jordie Barrett came on. Although the fresh front row didn’t make a huge impact, Barrett alone changed the match. A strong substitution choice from Robertson—took the team from losing to winning.
The tempo noticeably increased when Jordie Barrett came on. Although the fresh front row didn’t make a huge impact, Barrett alone changed the match. A strong substitution choice from Robertson—took the team from losing to winning.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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