All Blacks grind down France 29-19 in Hamilton to sweep series

Straits Times

19-07-2025

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Replacement hooker Brodie McAlister scored a late try in a memorable test debut for New Zealand to seal a 29-19 win over France in Hamilton and complete a 3-0 series sweep on Saturday.
Jordie Barrett set up the winner with a linebreak in front of the posts, before passing back inside to McAlister who slid over the line in front of delighted home fans at Waikato Stadium.
"To debut here, it's pretty awesome and I'm pretty proud to put the black jersey on and get to work with the brothers," said the Waikato Chiefs hooker.
"It's been quite a journey (for me), a lot of setbacks, a lot of resilience."
With his brother Scott and Beauden out with injuries, Barrett represented the family with distinction in a sparkling game off the bench.
He made a try-saving tackle near the hour mark to hold off the valiant French, who battled in vain to break a win drought in New Zealand dating back to Dunedin in 2009.
Though France arrived in the country without a slew of their top players, they were a handful for Scott Robertson's All Blacks, barring the 43-17 drubbing in the second test in Wellington.
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Robertson fielded a much-changed lineup in Hamilton and was forced into a late shuffle when number eight Luke Jacobson broke down with an apparent hamstring strain in the warmup.
He made way for Du'Plessis Kirifi who celebrated his first All Blacks start with a try near the hour mark that nosed his team in front after trailing 19-17 at halftime.
BRIGHT START
Earlier, France were in control for much of the opening half.
They had a bright start, with scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec first to cross the try-line in the eighth minute with a quick dash from the back of a maul.
The French stretched the lead to 10-0 with a penalty before New Zealand finally responded when Will Jordan gathered a kick and sliced through the French defence for a 22nd-minute try.
France flyhalf Antoine Hastoy kept the scoreboard ticking over with a drop goal, while Le Garrec stretched the lead to 19-10 with back-to-back penalty goals.
But veteran All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown, making a return from injury, pegged the French back nearly three minutes after the half-time siren with a hard-earned try on the back of 18 phases.
The French defended stoutly after the restart but were finally unlocked after 58 minutes by a Damian McKenzie grubber to the corner.
France fullback Leo Barre retrieved the ball over the line but All Blacks winger Sevu Reece pounced on him to spill it clear, allowing Kirifi to score his first test try.
Having taken the lead, the All Blacks ramped up the pressure and spent much of the remaining minutes camped on the France goal-line before the brilliant Barrett broke through to set up McAlister's winner. REUTERS