All Blacks down France, secure three-Test series sweep
Jordie Barrett set up the winner on Saturday with a line break 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 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 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 second Test drubbing in Wellington.
Robertson fielded a much-changed line-up in Hamilton and was forced into a late shuffle when No.8 Luke Jacobson broke down in the warm-up.
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.
Les Bleus had made a bright start with scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec first to cross over with a quick dash from the back of a maul in the eighth minute.
The French stretched the lead with a penalty before New Zealand responded when Will Jordan gathered a kick and sliced through for a 22nd-minute try.
The kick 🤌 The try 🤌 pic.twitter.com/Rb9XU8yLkk
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 19, 2025
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 halftime siren with a hard-earned try on the back of 18 phases.
The French were unlocked again on 58 minutes by a Damian McKenzie grubber to the corner.
France fullback Leo Barre retrieved the ball over the line but 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 the brilliant Barrett broke through to set up McAlister's winner.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
UFC exec says promotion won't cater headlining fights to specific regions
Don't expect the UFC to change its model for headlining matchups, regardless of the event's location. UFC executive Dave Shaw was asked after UFC on ABC 9, which took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, if the promotion would consider changing its booking style to have main events catered to the local audience. Shaw's response was blunt: "No, we're not." The UFC on ABC 9 main event saw New Zealand-born former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker take on Netherlands-born Reinier de Ridder. The fight turned out to be a thriller, but neither fighter had ties to the region. The same was true when the UFC's headliner for its first trip to Baku, Azerbaijan, featured two American light heavyweights, Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. It's a model that won't change, because for the UFC, putting on the best fight possible in the marquee spot is more important than catering to the local audience. The formula has been the standard for the promotion for quite some time. The main event fight will be the biggest available at the time, while the undercard often features talent with ties to the location of the event. "Listen, the way that Dana (White) puts together these fight cards, he's striving, he's accomplishing the best fights he can possibly make at that moment in time," Shaw said. "We also, when we come back to a location pretty frequently, from some of the conversations that we've had with our partners, with fans, with broadcast partners – yes, you get a lot of energy. "You get a lot of local hometown support for the regional guys, but local fans want to see the global stars, and why would anyone not want to see someone like Robert Whittaker, who's had such an extensive career?" With events in Abu Dhabi in the past, the promotion has succeeded in bringing main eventers that generate more local interest. Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov have headlined events at Etihad Arena, while fighters like Magomed Ankalaev, Khamzat Chimaev and Shara Magomedov have competed on multiple undercards as well. The UFC returns to Etihad Arena on Oct. 25 for UFC 321, which features Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton: Focus on Building a Championship-Winning Car for 2026
The dust has settled on the 2025 British Grand Prix, and it was a mixed bag for Ferrari, with some moderate success and more head-scratching failure to add to their tumultuous 2025 season. Lewis Hamilton managed to secure fourth position, his best result for Ferrari this season, yet the Silverstone race showed how limited the SF-25 was. We'll get into the particulars of why the British GP was a microcosm of all of Ferrari's failures this F1 season. Still, one thing is crystal clear: Ferrari must shift its focus to the future to establish itself as a championship contender under the new 2026 regulations. Also Read:: Why Ferrari's F1 Struggles Aren't as Bad as You Think: Insider Finds Positives During Disappointing 2025 Lewis Hamilton Again Decries the State of the Ferrari SF-25 The respectable P4 finish at Silverstone did not stop Lewis Hamilton from speaking candidly about the Ferrari SF-25's performance. Despite his history of public disputes with the team, Hamilton has consistently criticized the car's handling, and the British Grand Prix was no exception. 'The SF-25 is the toughest car I've driven here,' Hamilton said after the race. 'This was only my second time in it, and it's incredibly challenging. I'm just hoping to come back and enjoy it more next time. That said, I learned a lot today.' Hamilton's struggles were further complicated by a GPS malfunction that left Ferrari unaware of his race position for much of the event, preventing the team from providing critical feedback. The cause of such a malfunction remains unclear. Team principal Fred Vasseur remained optimistic about fixing the qualifying issues but admitted that they were working to resolve an unknown problem. Ferrari needs to convert their 2025 frustrations into a specific 2026 competitive plan. Related: Ferrari SF-25 Seems to Suffer from Split Personalities The Ferrari SF-25 showed excellent pace during practice runs, but Lewis Hamilton began the race from fifth position while Charles Leclerc started from sixth. Leclerc described the car's issue as 'weird,' noting that grip and balance were not the problem, as the team was still investigating the root cause. Those root causes are the big unknown. Despite the driver feedback and upgrades that have addressed the more visible issues, there's still something not quite right with the car in 2025. Despite the challenges, there were bright spots. Hamilton led the first practice session and Ferrari drivers achieved a decisive victory in Q2. McLaren's Andrea Stella praised Ferrari, calling them a force to be reckoned with in the 2025 Constructors' Championship fight. So there are positives about the car when it's operating at peak condition. But why it has so many dropouts and inconsistencies for each driver remains a big mystery, and a sign that Ferrari should focus on 2026. Read More: Focus on Driver Input & 2026 Should be the Strategy for Ferrari Ferrari should now prioritize developing their strategy for 2026 over the current season, which is now at its midpoint. While Ferrari should work closely with both drivers, Lewis Hamilton should play a significant role in guiding Ferrari in developing the 2026 car design, utilizing the remainder of 2025 to integrate Hamilton into its operations and refine its strategy. He is one of the most significant drivers in motorsport history, and the 2026 season presents a perfect opportunity for Ferrari to start fresh with next season's cars, which will be lighter and have equal distribution between combustion and electric power systems. 'But having lots of data to take from this, I mean, for me, I might have to sit down with the people that are designing the car for next year, because there are elements of this car that cannot go into the following year,' Hamilton said after the British Grand Prix The addition of Hamilton to the team means they need to adopt his professional approach and his ideas about designing a successful car. The partnership between Hamilton and Leclerc offers Ferrari the opportunity to develop a car that will be both competitive and ready for a true championship run for all three of them and the Scuderia. After all, the last time a Ferrari driver won an F1 world championship was 18 years ago in 2007 when Kimi Raikkonen did it. If the prancing horse wants to get back to the top after a long absence, the path to 2026 begins now. Read More: Related Headlines Derrick Lewis next fight: 'Black Beast' returns this Saturday for dangerous main event clash Boston Red Sox organization called out again for handling of Rafael Devers NASCAR entry list Sonoma: Cup Series field for Sonoma Raceway, NASCAR odds this week NBA Insider: Houston Rockets surge to contention, narrow Thunder gap with bold offseason moves
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rugby fan's huge airport surprise after landing in Sydney: 'Surreal'
When rugby superfan Lawrence Hanlin flew into Sydney from Gibraltar as the British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia got underway, he was in for the surprise of his life at the airport. There, waiting to take him to his hotel was his own private chauffeur, in the form of Wallabies legend and former captain Michael Hooper. 'Opening the door to such a legendary rugby player was surreal,' Lawrence, a former rugby player turned referee, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. 'He was incredibly friendly and genuine, which made the experience even better. We chatted about my lifelong passion for rugby - over 45 years now!' The pair exchanged banter about the classic rivalry between the Lions and Australia, and Lawrence was in for even more shocks once he arrived at the InterContinental Sydney, his chosen hotel for the stay. Not only were other top players there to greet him, namely British & Irish Lions players Andrew Porter, Tommy Freeman and Finn Russell, but he also got a signed Lions jersey, something he describes as 'the cherry on top'. RELATED: 🥬 Alternative to Coles, Woolworths saving shoppers up at $720 a year: 'Secret weapon' 🩲 'Favourite' Aussie brand slashes prices by 30 per cent: 'Available in XS to 2XL' 💄 Aussie brand's 'near perfect' dupe of $70 cult product wows for half the price Benefits and perks of IHG One Rewards So just why did Lawrence get such VIP treatment during his Sydney trip? He's a member of IHG One Rewards - the hotel chain's global loyalty program - and by just signing up for free, you're in with a chance of scoring some serious perks. 'The IHG One Rewards program is all about creating memorable, money-can't-buy experiences for our guests around the world,' Dean Jones, Vice President, Commercial, East Asia & Pacific (EAPAC), tells Yahoo Lifestyle. 'As the Official Hotel Partner of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour, we wanted to recognise one of our members in a way that felt truly personal and once-in-a-lifetime. 'From the moment Lawrence stepped out of the airport to the final surprise in his room, you could see how much the entire experience meant to him, and we're so pleased to be able to create moments like this for our guests.' But while Lawrence's experience took a 'bit of coordination behind the scenes' to pull off, Dean explains that anyone who signs up to join the rewards program can reap a whole host of benefits - some of which can save you some serious cash. Upgrades and sports events for members 'Members earn points every time they stay across our portfolio of 20 brands, and those points can be redeemed for perks, including hotel nights, upgrades, and increasingly, unforgettable experiences, such as Lions Tour tickets, access to fan zones and activations we've popped up on property and at stadiums during the tour,' Dean says. 'There are five loyalty tiers in total, and the more nights you stay in a year, the further you move up the tiers. 'Even at our starting tier as a Club Member, there are some great perks, including free Wi-Fi, access to member-only rates every time you book and late check-out on availability. It's designed to be simple to understand, flexible, and about giving members choice in how they earn and spend their points, so it's rewarding in the way you want it to be.' Indeed, over the last few months, IHG has been offering numerous exclusive perks and benefits to IHG One Rewards members in Australia and around the world. These include Platinum rugby tickets with a Captain's Run experience, the ultimate Lions Tour prize with flights and accommodation, signed merch and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IHG Hotels & Resorts (@ihghotels) Members start saving immediately To date, IHG One Rewards members have redeemed over eight million points for experiences – including Platinum tickets to the Sydney Test match, which sold out in just two minutes. 'The best way to stay across what's on offer is to join IHG One Rewards and keep an eye out for key offers on our IHG One Rewards Access platform, an exclusive benefit for members, where they can redeem points for unique experiences,' Dean explains. 'We're always adding and communicating new offers and once-in-a-lifetime packages, not just for sport fans, but across music, culture and entertainment.' IHG hotels include the luxe InterContinental Sydney and Double Bay, the Kimpton Margot Sydney, the Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour and the Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point. In Melbourne, they're behind Voco Melbourne Central, the Hotel Indigos on Little Collins and Flinders Lane, as well as the InterContinental Melbourne and two Crowne Plaza hotels. 'When you join IHG One Rewards, you automatically unlock a members-only rate. It's a simple way to start saving straight away,' Dean says. 'Plus, as members accrue points over time, they can be used to cover part or all of a future stay, or to save money with one of our many partners, including airlines and retailers.' Rewards program a 'no brainer' For Lawrence, becoming an IHG One Rewards member was a 'no brainer' as he travels extensively for work. 'It gives me access to extra perks and offers that really enhance my travel experience,' he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. 'The program adds genuine value for frequent travellers like me.' He describes the InterContinental Sydney as 'exceptional' and in his 'top five hotels worldwide'. And there's a good reason why he wanted this trip to be extra special. 'Having stayed at various hotels in Sydney before, I knew I wanted something central, with amazing views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. This trip was extra special as I planned to propose to my partner on the bridge later in the week.' Indeed, Lawrence tells Yahoo Lifestyle that he did end up proposing and his partner said 'yes' - making this Australian getaway one to remember forever. To learn more about IHG One Rewards, click here.
