Dave Rennie’s rebuilding job in Christchurch has begun with a precious but nervy victory over France, the All Blacks winning 34-32 without ever looking in control, with Matthieu Jalibert’s late try making for a nervous last two minutes.
Rennie will no doubt take it, but the manner of the triumph under the roof at Te Kaha was part exhilarating part downright loose, and it was not helped by a yellow card for first-five Ruben Love after only a couple of minutes.
Rennie promised optimism this week but the All Blacks could have used a little more pragmatism at times. Over that last two minutes the All Blacks turned to the latter when running down the clock as the realities of Test rugby perhaps kicked in.
The build-up was not ideal, with veteran lock Patrick Tuipulotu ruled out with a tight calf and skipper Ardie Savea appearing to hurt his upper leg during the warm-up. The former was replaced by Jamie Hannah, the Crusader making his debut in the second half.
Savea, meanwhile, played the full 80 minutes and was involved in several big moments, as usual.
The headlines will mark Rennie’s first Test as a success, but also the two tries for Will Jordan, which took him to 47 tries in 54 Tests and second overall on the All Blacks’ all-time list behind Doug Howlett’s 49.
Cam Roigard also showed his value with two of his own. The halfback was instrumental in setting the All Blacks’ up-tempo game but may regret his quick penalty tap in the second half which served to put his side under pressure and led to a French try.
The All Blacks scored five tries in total, with France scoring four. Despite being occasionally stretched by the All Blacks’ attack, they were, true to form, never out of this, but a defeat would probably have been harsh on Rennie’s men.
The rebuild had an inauspicious start, with centre Damian Pernaud strolling through a large gap in the midfield after only two minutes for a converted try, with Love’s sinbinning for a high tackle after Maxime Lucu’s conversion adding insult to injury.
The All Blacks had not handled the ball at that point.
A quick response was required and it came via a turnover on the French line and Barrett sending an enormous pass to Jordan, who finished with acrobatic style in the right corner.
The try, unconverted from the sideline, settled the home nerves after the early shock and Love’s return shortly afterwards was another boost.
Lucu’s penalty from in front extended France’s lead but the All Blacks’ attacking shape was starting to take its toll.
It wasn’t perfect – too many passes went to ground under pressure – but the multiple threats and time in possession must have been tiring for the visitors and a first sign came with Peter Lakai’s try after some excellent work from Quinn Tupaea and a last pass inside from Caleb Clarke.
Back came France again, though, with Lucu giving France the lead again with another penalty 13-12.
Still, while the All Blacks continued to spill the ball, including Ethan de Groot on the line and, shortly afterwards, in the act of scoring, they were pulling France apart and the third breakthrough came on halftime when, from an attacking lineout, Codie Taylor carried hard, Barrett made an excellent cleanout, and Cam Roigard went over.
There good signs among the untidy stuff, and it was a deserved halftime lead.
A mad start to the second half had Savea penalised for tackling a man without the ball, and, once the All Blacks got the ball back, Roigard took a quick penalty tap from halfway to start a phase which finished with the ball being kicked away by McKenzie anyway.
It ultimately led to a try for Antoine Hastoy which gave France the lead back.
Roigard redeemed himself with a try that mirrored Hastoy’s – after an inside pass from Barrett, and back the lead went to New Zealand.
Two scares then in quick succession for New Zealand; one when centre Fabien Brau-Boirie failed to gather a kick over the All Blacks’ line, and then had his try ruled out for an earlier knock-on.
Still, wing Theo Attissogbe was over in the right corner after some more loose stuff from the home side to narrow the gap 26-25.
Love’s penalty gave the All Blacks a little breathing space and Jordan’s second try, after an inside ball from flanker Luke Jacobson, was a beauty.
Jalibert’s try for France near the posts upped the anxiety, but the All Blacks held on.
To be fair to the home side, there was a bit to like near the end with replacements Xavier Numia, Fehi Fineanganofo and Hannah making their presence felt on debut and Wallace Sititi likewise adding impact.
Love was good overall, with McKenzie occasionally threatening. Jordan's actions speak for themselves.
In the end it was good and bad before a satisfactory finish (for All Blacks fans anyway). Rebuilding jobs can be a bit like that.
One does wonder, though, what sort of a toll France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, probably the best No.11 in the world, would have taken had he been on the trip.
All Blacks 34 (Cam Roigard 2, Will Jordan 2, Peter Lakai tries; Ruben Love 3 cons, pen)
France 32 (Damian Pernaud, Antoine Hastoy, Theo Attissogbe, Matthieu Jalibert tries; Maxime Lucu 3 cons, 2 pens)
Halftime: 19-13
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