Improved All Blacks beat France 43-17 in the 2nd test to seal a series win
Savea took over the captaincy from the injured Scott Barrett and under his leadership the All Blacks produced a more intense and physical performance than in the first test in which they scraped home 31-27.
The All Blacks dominated through their forwards against a French team that had 10 changes to its starting lineup from the first test and still lacked most of its Six Nations stars.
'This week we talked about our defense and we wanted to bring fire in that area and we did that in most parts of the game,' Savea said. 'I proud of our boys for just sticking with it and doing a good job tonight.'
With greater control of possession, New Zealand was able to set a higher tempo than in the first test and play more often in the French half. With quick ball and an ability to dominate the collision area and offload in tackles, New Zealand scored six tries on two.
Four of those tries came in the first half and only two in the second in which the All Blacks were less clinical.
The All Blacks were dangerous around the fringes of breakdowns through Savea and Cam Roigard and unstoppable when they got the ball wide to fullback Will Jordan and winger Rieko Ioane who scored tries.
The credit belonged mostly to the forwards who fully atoned for a submissive first test performance.
After a penalty to Beauden Barrett, Roigard scored the first try of the match in the 14th minute when he linked with Savea who broke on the blindside.
Savea scored in the 23rd minute, pivoting away a lineout drive to touch down while New Zealand was reduced to 14 men with Beauden Barrett in the sin-bin.
Hooker Codie Taylor scored from another lineout drive in the 23rd minute, then backrower Tupou Vaa'i ended the first half with a try from a superb handling movement which involved Savea, Ioane and center Billy Proctor.
France made five changes at the start of the second half and produced better rugby and their first try in the 47th minute through fullback Leo Barre.
The third test will be played at Hamilton next weekend.
___
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
16 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
West Indies take honors on 1st day of day-night 3rd test against Australia
Associated Press KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The West Indies produced another dominant day with the ball against a fragile Australia batting lineup and then survived a tense final hour Saturday to take the honors after the first day of the day-night third test. Shamar Joseph took four wickets, with Justin Greaves and Jayden Seales taking three apiece, as the West Indies pace attack took full advantage of the seam and pitch conditions once the lights were turned on at Sabina Park to bowl Australia out for 225. The hosts then survived an evening onslaught from 100-test veteran Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, for just the loss of Kevlon Anderson to Starc, to be 12-1 at the close. Earlier, 19-year-old Sam Konstas' tough tour continued as he was the only wicket to fall in the opening session after Australia had won the toss and elected to bat. Konstas labored to 17 from 53 balls before he was snared lbw by Greaves (3-56). Usman Khawaja didn't fare much better as he fell for a scratchy 23 from 92 balls until he was spectacularly caught behind by Shai Hope to give Shamar Joseph (4-33) his first wicket of the day. Cameron Green (46) and Steven Smith (48) steadied the ship for the Baggy Greens with a 61-run partnership, but both were dismissed in quick order just before milestones. Unlike the first two tests in Barbados and Grenada, Australia's middle order didn't fire with Head (20), Webster (one) and Carey (21) all falling cheaply as the lights were turned and the ball began hooping and swinging about. Seales (3-59) then returned to pick up Cummins (24), who holed-out in the deep looking for his third six in the over and Starc went for a duck in his milestone 100th test. Shamar Joseph got a deserved fourth wicket when he had Josh Hazlewood caught to wrap up yet another unconvincing Australian batting display. 'Every pitch has been tough,' Green said after play. "It was a real grind. Usman batted well and never looked in. Steve Smith looked like he batted on a different pitch again. 'We wanted to give them a tricky 45 minutes at the end and I thought they batted beautifully.' King and Anderson had the unenviable task of opening the batting for the hosts under lights with Mikyle Louis and John Campbell both unavailable to bat after taking blows in the field during Australia's first innings. After Starc, who relishes bowling with the pink ball, didn't have to wait long to get his 396th test wicket when he found the stumps between the gap of Anderson's (3) bat and pad. But captain Chase and King dug in grimly and survived a number of close calls to see the hosts through to stumps and take the honors after the first day. Veterans dropped Australia spinner Nathan Lyon was dropped for the first time in 12 years as the tourists opted for an all-pace attack with the pink ball at Sabina Park. Scott Boland was brought in beside usual attack trio of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood. The West Indies, on the other hand, broke up its all-pace attack from Grenada by recalling left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican at the expense of quick Anderson Phillip. Also, opening batter Kraigg Brathwaite was dropped following his 100th test in Grenada after scores in the series of 4, 4, 0, 7. He was replaced by Louis, while Guyana's Anderson debuted at No. 3 in the order after displacing Keacy Carty. Starc's 100th milestone Starc is playing his 100th test, the 16th Australian to the landmark. After taking Anderson's wickets under lights at Sabina Park, he's now just four wickets away from a career 400. Australia's bowlers have dominated the series after winning the first two tests — by 159 runs in Barbados then by 133 runs in Grenada — to secure the Frank Worrell Trophy. ___ AP cricket: in this topic
Hamilton Spectator
27 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Merrill's 2 homers off Wheeler help the Padres beat the Phillies 5-4
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jackson Merrill broke out of a slump with two home runs off All-Star Zack Wheeler, and Manny Machado hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for the San Diego Padres, who won their second straight game against the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4 on Saturday. Merrill hadn't homered since May 27, a span of 35 games. He hit a two-run, opposite-field shot to left center with one out in the second to tie the game at 2. He appeared relieved and gently pumped his right fist as he rounded first base and then motioned toward the Padres' bullpen. His solo shot to right center with one out in the sixth tied the game at 4. Machado's sac fly off Jordan Romano brought in Fernando Tatis Jr., who had greeted Tanner Banks (2-1) with a one-out single. Wheeler was named to the National League All-Star team but won't pitch because of his start Saturday. He was replaced Friday by San Diego reliever Adrian Morejon. Wheeler allowed four runs and six hits in six innings, struck out six and walked one. It was just the fourth time in 19 starts this season that Wheeler allowed more than two earned runs. Edmundo Sosa hit a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the fifth to chase Yu Darvish. It was one inning after Sosa replaced injured third baseman Alec Bohm . Darvish allowed four runs and five hits, struck out two and walked three. He had been sidelined by right elbow inflammation from spring training until making his season debut on Monday night . David Morgan (1-1) pitched one inning for the win and Jeremiah Estrada pitched a perfect ninth for his third save. Key stat Merrill is the third player with multiple homers in a game against Wheeler, joining Buster Posey (April 20, 2021) and Cody Bellinger (June 19, 2017). Key moment Merrill's first homer. Up next Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (7-2, 2.59 ERA) and Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (9-2, 3.07) are scheduled to start the series finale Sunday. ___ AP MLB:
San Francisco Chronicle
34 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Merrill's 2 homers off Wheeler help the Padres beat the Phillies 5-4
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jackson Merrill broke out of a slump with two home runs off All-Star Zack Wheeler, and Manny Machado hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for the San Diego Padres, who won their second straight game against the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4 on Saturday. Merrill hadn't homered since May 27, a span of 35 games. He hit a two-run, opposite-field shot to left center with one out in the second to tie the game at 2. He appeared relieved and gently pumped his right fist as he rounded first base and then motioned toward the Padres' bullpen. His solo shot to right center with one out in the sixth tied the game at 4. Machado's sac fly off Jordan Romano brought in Fernando Tatis Jr., who had greeted Tanner Banks (2-1) with a one-out single. Wheeler was named to the National League All-Star team but won't pitch because of his start Saturday. He was replaced Friday by San Diego reliever Adrian Morejon. Wheeler allowed four runs and six hits in six innings, struck out six and walked one. It was just the fourth time in 19 starts this season that Wheeler allowed more than two earned runs. Edmundo Sosa hit a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the fifth to chase Yu Darvish. It was one inning after Sosa replaced injured third baseman Alec Bohm. Darvish allowed four runs and five hits, struck out two and walked three. He had been sidelined by right elbow inflammation from spring training until making his season debut on Monday night. David Morgan (1-1) pitched one inning for the win and Jeremiah Estrada pitched a perfect ninth for his third save. Key stat Merrill is the third player with multiple homers in a game against Wheeler, joining Buster Posey (April 20, 2021) and Cody Bellinger (June 19, 2017). Up next Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (7-2, 2.59 ERA) and Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (9-2, 3.07) are scheduled to start the series finale Sunday. ___
