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Good evening from Marseille as France host New Zealand. Marseille is a fortress for the French and their international record is exceptional here, with 1 defeat in 9. Dunedin is New Zealand 's fortress, but the French turned them over there earlier in the year and that is one of the reasons this game is so hotly anitcipated, as the All Blacks will be determined to settle that score.
New Zealand didn't have the best Tri-Nations but are back at number 1 after a successful tour so far. France are flying high after defeating the World and Tri-Nations champions, South Africa, and defeating the All-Blacks will really give them confidence that Lievremont's plans are beginning to bear fruit.
19:47 We've had both national anthems. It's a typical febrile atmosphere here at Marseille. And it's not going to get any less so with the Haka. The All Blacks are all in white but France are right up on the halfway line to face them.
Good agression as always from the Kiwis, but the French alsways seem to face up to the Haka with the most intent.
Add to all that the fact that both sides are packed with exciting talent all over the field and we could be in for a cracking contest. Please join me here for it from 20.45 (19.45 GMT).
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| 1 |
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Good intent from the French first up as Carter kicks straight back to them, a knock-on means it comes to nothing, however.
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| 2 |
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Frist penalty: Feisty in the front rows, and France have the best of it as they pile throught the New Zealand scrum. They force the penalty and have a chance for early points.
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| 3 |
3 - 0 |
Trinh-duc slots it over, it was fairly straight-forward and France are ahead.
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| 5 |
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Conrad Smith created a half break on the left hand side of the field, but when the play came back right, Cowan knocks it on. That's missed by the referee, but the ball is forced into touch.
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| 6 |
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New Zealand win the penalty and Carter, showing mroe intent and confidence than last week, aims the kick long to secure a great touch.
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| 7 |
3 - 5 |
TRY New Zealand show the broadsword and the rapier of their attack. Nonu smashes up the middle and commits several defenders, the ball is recycled quickly and is spun out to Sivivatu who ghosts over without a hand laid on him.
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| 8 |
3 - 7 |
Carter's conversion is straight down the middle, first blood New Zealand.
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| 10 |
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It is important that France come back strongly form that position. They certainly do, with typical gallic flair, Jauzion cuts through the New Zealand defence and seems free before the All Black defence gets across.
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| 11 |
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As play slows down, France opt for the points, but Trinh-Duc's drop goal attempt is mis-hit.
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| 13 |
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Some scrappy scrummaging. Tialata looks under pressure for the All Blacks, the scrum goes to NZ but France look to have the advantage up front.
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| 14 |
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France have a first penalty, which they kick to touch and win a second, when New Zealand jump across a line in the lineout. This is kickable, and they have a chance for further points.
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| 16 |
6 - 7 |
And they get them with Dupuy.
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| 17 |
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Carter's restart is straight out so we have a scrum on the halfway.
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| 18 |
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The scrum is reset as both sides tussle for superiority upfront. THe penalty goes against Ne Zealand as they break early, and France opt to kick at the posts from halfway.
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| 19 |
9 - 7 |
It's a big kick, he's on the halfway line, but he gets it in-off and with the help of the posts France take the lead.
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| 20 |
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A lead which they almost lose, as Cowan charges down Trinch-Duc's clearance from the re-start. However, the ball goes dead, before he can touch it down.
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| 22 |
9 - 12 |
SUPERB TRY That's what New Zealand can do. Looking for the breakthrough, the French chip on but the ball goes to Sivivatu, who leads a lightning break. A step takes him clear of Clerc and he feeds Muliaina, who crosses for a try. That was the full length of the pitch and shows the danger New Zealand always pose.
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| 24 |
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France try to create something with a cross-field ball, but Clerc takes the ball stationary and is bundled into touch.
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| 26 |
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France come back with real purpose, they work through several phases, with sharp offloads, but eventually a ball-carrier becomes isolated and they concede the penalty.
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| 27 |
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Nonu beats the first tackle and NZ are behing the defense. The Frenchmen scramble but can only give away the penalty an Carter has the chance to extend his sides lead.
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| 28 |
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The games is not uneven at present but New Zealand look like they could score from every attack and that justifies their lead.
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| 29 |
9 - 15 |
Carter - penalty goal
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| 30 |
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Again, the All Blacks show their incisive edge, with Nonu at first punching holes through the middle before releasing runners. Fortunately for the French, the ball is knocked-on before they can cross the line.
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| 32 |
9 - 22 |
TRY In contrast to the running rugby which has led to their first two tries, New Zealanbd shove the wheeling scrum back and Kaino touches the ball down. New Zealand dominance is looking complete at the moment.
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| 35 |
12 - 22 |
France's response is again positive. They are still running onto the ball well. After a couple of phases Trinh-Duc opts to take the drop goal and successfully closes the gap.
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| 36 |
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Trinh-Duc forces New Zealand back with a neat kick that bounces into touch in the All Black 22. However, the Kiwis are alert and take a quick throw-in, Carter has the chance to clear upfield and forces the French back into their 22.
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| 38 |
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France secure their ball, but the clearance is not too long from Traille. However, the French defence is good and they do not let New Zealand progress far beyond the middle of the field.
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| 40 |
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New Zealand counter-attack, but it comes to nothing other than showing the speed of their hands and flight of foot. These attributes have led to them scoring three tries and they are good value for the lead.
France have been positive but need to take a major step up to compete in this game. I'll be back in 5 minutes after the players have had a slice of orange to see if they can improve in the second half.
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| 41 |
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Scrappy start to the second half with a couple of loose kicks. New Zealand end up with a lineout, though, and a chance to launch something.
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| 42 |
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France come back at them, but turn the ball over, they will need more precision than that to eat into this All Black lead.
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| 44 |
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From the lineout New Zealand try to launch an attack with runners coming from deep, however, Nonu is well tackled and ends up on the wrong side. France have the clearance, although don't gain as much distance as they should.
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| 45 |
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Blistering attack by France, who make big inroads by spinning the ball wide from the lineout. They are behind the New Zealand defence and are held to a scrum 5 metres from the New Zealand line.
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| 47 |
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The scrum leads to a French penalty, which is eminently kickable, but it is pushed well wide. The difference is still 10 points.
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| 50 |
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French penalty, which they kick to the New Zealand 22. However, the ball is wasted as the lineout goes astray. A huge clearance is put in early by the French three-quarters, their clearance is also taken quickly by Muliaina. Traille does not secure the ball and in the scramble New Zealand win the penalty.
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| 51 |
12 - 25 |
Carter converts and New Zealand look in danger of getting out of sight here.
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| 53 |
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Again, France take the ball back positively, they work thourhg a couple of phases and eventually McCaw goes too far and is penalised for his work in the ruck.
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| 54 |
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A perfectly acceptable chance is missed by Dupuy and France's missed chances will destroy any chance they have of getting back into this.
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| 55 |
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Sensational stuff from New Zealand: inspired by Carter, whose beautiful chip bounces kindly back into this hand, before he feeds Muliaina. France break up the attack but have a defensive scrum on their 5-metre line and are under pressure.
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| 57 |
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Pressure at the scrum forces a desperate clearance and New Zealand have a lineout on the 22.
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| 58 |
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Carter shows strength to go with his guile and makes a half-break. Nonu takes the ball on but can't make the final yards. He is penalised for holding on, but really, the French team are holding on at the moment and unless they find something, could end up receiving a hiding.
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| 60 |
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Every time France try to launch an attack, and they are trying, New Zealand are putting in crunching tackles. They are not afraid to come off their line to make these tackles, either, and one from Sivivatu almost leads to a breakthourhg by Carter as the ball is spilled.
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| 61 |
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Carter rattles the crossbar with a dropgoal attempt.
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| 62 |
12 - 32 |
TRY Traille's clearance from that rebound falles to Jane, who chips over the French defence, collects his own kick and touches down without significant impediment from a Frenchman.
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| 63 |
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The All Blacks are cutting France apart at will here. And then, the French restart goes straight into touch. Ominous.
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| 65 |
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New Zealand have worked an unbelievable number of phases here, seemingly having time to pick and drive at will.
They are totally on the front foot now, if this were a boxing match the ref would be thinking of stopping it.
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| 67 |
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A sliced clearance from Medard means New Zealand have a put -in in the French 22. They offload at every opportunity and drive up before eventually conceding a penalty.
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| 71 |
12 - 37 |
New Zealand are so quick on the turnover, a sniff of a chance and they launch they counter attack. A ruck forms on the left wing, Conrad Smith is alert to the chance, picks up and nips over through a gaping absence of French defence.
It's French frustration that then spills over when a large number of players get involved in a bit of fisticuffs.
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| 72 |
12 - 39 |
Carter adds the extras and despite taking it from the touchline, splits the posts perfectly.
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| 74 |
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New Zealand don't look statisfied with their already considerable lead and are spinning the ball wide, and they look liable to create a score at any time.
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| 76 |
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New Zealand are almost over again as they intercept on the short side, Sivivatu takes the ball on and is almost through before being pulled down by two men. France win the penalty as Owen Franks infringes and is binned. I don't think it is going to make a lot of difference to the result.
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| 78 |
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The game is almost over and the margin is unassailable, and yet Ritchie McCaw is still penalised for his full commitment to breaking up the French attack. New Zealand have been supreme tonight, but it has not been their work on the ground that has made the difference. We have seen the true attacking potential you expect from the All Blacks.
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| 80 |
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A hack downfield as the ball is turned over looks like it could lead to a further New Zealand score, and more misery for the French. Traille, the only defender because of the desperate French attack, gets across and boots the ball unceremoniously into touch, and the game is over.
It's a crushing defeat for France and really puts pay to any thought that northern hemisphere rugby, led by the French, might be a sustained threat to the big three of the southern hemisphere. Despite being at the end of a tough tour, at the end of a draining season, New Zealand show that the quality is still very much there.
New Zealand will be going back home very happy, although we have the privilege of seeing them next week against the Barbarians, which should be a superb exhibition of attacking rugby, if this match was anything to go by. Until then, thanks for joining me, Jamie Allawaty, for this match on Scrum.com.
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