ALL BLACKS EDGE FRANCE 34-32 IN INAUGURAL NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

New Zealand defeated France 34-32 in Christchurch on Saturday in the opening match of the inaugural Nations Championship. The All Blacks played under head coach Dave Rennie for the first time in the Test match. Cam Roigard and Will Jordan each scored two tries for the hosts, who held on despite France mounting a strong second-half comeback.

France fielded an under-strength squad without players from top clubs Toulouse and Montpellier. The visitors began at a rapid tempo, with Damian Penaud, France's record try scorer, crossing in the second minute to reach 41 Test tries. New Zealand faced an early setback when fly-half Ruben Love received a yellow card for a high tackle on full-back Max Spring. The hosts recovered to score through Jordan in the eighth minute after captain Ardie Savea won a turnover. By half-time, New Zealand led 19-13 after Roigard scored a try from a ruck snipe.

France attacked aggressively in the second half, with Antoine Hastoy and Theo Attissogbe scoring tries to narrow the gap. Jordan added his second try to extend New Zealand's lead to 34-25 with nine minutes remaining. Matthieu Jalibert scored for France with two minutes left, but the hosts secured victory. The result marked Dave Rennie's first Test in charge of the All Blacks.