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CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Facing unique French test makes All Blacks better, says coach Robertson
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson believes his team will have gained long-term benefits from overcoming a France side that offered a unique challenge on Saturday as the All Blacks completed a 3-0 series win over the Europeans. Robertson's team were forced to fight their way back into the game after a fast start by the tourists to clinch a come-from-behind 29-19 win in Hamilton that ensured the All Blacks swept the series. "What we take out of it is you've got to play different teams," said Robertson. "They attack differently to anything in Super Rugby, maybe in world rugby, so you train all week in opposition to try and beat the French, and it's really unnatural. "We know what's coming, we've got to stop them. And that's what we've learnt again tonight. They start, they get ahead of us, that fills our hunger. But that's test match footie. You never under-assume anyone and we're better for it." Robertson made 10 changes to the team that started the previous test and the French dominated the opening exchanges to claim a 19-10 lead through back-to-back penalties by scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec. A try by All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown late in the half reduced the deficit to two points and a strong second-half showing, inspired by replacement Jordie Barrett, led New Zealand to victory. "We know how important the 23 is and Jordie was just so professional when he came on," said Robertson. "He made a massive difference for us. Some of that wasn't pretty, we understand that, but there was a hell of a lot of character and effort off the back of a lot of care. "One thing for us is we've got to get the balance right. Sometimes we can overplay and sometimes we can underplay with our kicking. That's the balance."
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Facing unique French test makes All Blacks better, says coach Robertson
July 20 (Reuters) - New Zealand coach Scott Robertson believes his team will have gained long-term benefits from overcoming a France side that offered a unique challenge on Saturday as the All Blacks completed a 3-0 series win over the Europeans. Robertson's team were forced to fight their way back into the game after a fast start by the tourists to clinch a come-from-behind 29-19 win in Hamilton that ensured the All Blacks swept the series. "What we take out of it is you've got to play different teams," said Robertson. "They attack differently to anything in Super Rugby, maybe in world rugby, so you train all week in opposition to try and beat the French, and it's really unnatural. "We know what's coming, we've got to stop them. And that's what we've learnt again tonight. They start, they get ahead of us, that fills our hunger. But that's test match footie. You never under-assume anyone and we're better for it." Robertson made 10 changes to the team that started the previous test and the French dominated the opening exchanges to claim a 19-10 lead through back-to-back penalties by scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec. A try by All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown late in the half reduced the deficit to two points and a strong second-half showing, inspired by replacement Jordie Barrett, led New Zealand to victory. "We know how important the 23 is and Jordie was just so professional when he came on," said Robertson. "He made a massive difference for us. Some of that wasn't pretty, we understand that, but there was a hell of a lot of character and effort off the back of a lot of care. "One thing for us is we've got to get the balance right. Sometimes we can overplay and sometimes we can underplay with our kicking. That's the balance."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
All Blacks 'punched in nose' before beating France
New Zealand captain Ardie Savea said his side were "punched in the nose" despite recovering to beat France 29-19 and complete a series clean sweep. Having trailed 10-0 early on and 19-17 at half-time, the All Blacks only took the lead with 20 minutes to go against an under-strength French team in Hamilton. Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Du'Plessis Kirifi and debutant Brodie McAlister all crossed for New Zealand while Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec starred for France converting his own early try and striking three penalties. It meant France's tour ended in a 3-0 All Blacks series win after the hosts won 31-27 in Dunedin and 41-17 in Wellington earlier this month. New Zealand's team in Hamilton featured 10 changes to their previous starting XV and flanker Savea admitted his new-look side had been caught off guard. "We got kind of punched in the nose in the first half and then, you know, we came back in the second," he said. "We were able to build phases and build pressure. We converted it into points." All Blacks coach Scott Robertson added: "We'll be better for the experience as a group. Ten points down at one stage and we found a way, played some really good footy and we're better for it." Later on Saturday, debutant Marnus van der Merwe scored two first-half tries to help South Africa thrash Georgia 55-10 in a one off Test in Nelspruit. Vano Karkadze crossed inside three minutes to give Georgia a shock lead but the Springboks responded with nine tries to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches. Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
All Blacks 'punched in the nose' during France win
New Zealand captain Ardie Savea said his side were "punched in the nose" despite recovering to beat France 29-19 and complete a series clean trailed 10-0 early on and 19-17 at half-time, the All Blacks only took the lead with 20 minutes to go against an under-strength French team in Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Du'Plessis Kirifi and debutant Brodie McAlister all crossed for New Zealand while Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec starred for France converting his own early try and striking three meant France's tour ended in a 3-0 All Blacks series win after the hosts won 31-27 in Dunedin and 41-17 in Wellington earlier this Zealand's team in Hamilton featured 10 changes to their previous starting XV and flanker Savea admitted his new-look side had been caught off guard."We got kind of punched in the nose in the first half and then, you know, we came back in the second," he said."We were able to build phases and build pressure. We converted it into points."All Blacks coach Scott Robertson added: "We'll be better for the experience as a group. Ten points down at one stage and we found a way, played some really good footy and we're better for it."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The All Blacks score a late try to secure a 29-19 win over France in the 3rd test
HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Replacement hooker Brodie McAlister scored a 76th-minute try on test debut to seal New Zealand's 29-19 win over France, completing a series sweep 3-0. The All Blacks rallied from 19-8 down in the first half, taking the lead for the first time in the 59th minute and holding on with 12 unanswered points in the second spell. A try to center Anton Lienert-Brown three minutes after the halftime siren was crucial to the All Blacks' comeback win, allowing them to go to halftime only two points behind at 19-17. The All Blacks then played mostly in France's territory in the last quarter to close out the match by adding 12 unanswered points. Scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec scored a try among 16 points as France established its 19-8 lead by the 36th minute. He converted his own try and kicked a penalty for France to lead 10-0 after 19 minutes. He then added two more penalties while France's only other points came from a dropped goal by flyhalf Antoine Hastoy. New Zealand scored a 22nd minute try through winger Will Jordan to stay in the match, then crucially scored again in the dying moments of the first half to set up a thrilling second spell. Hastoy missed a dropped goal and Le Garrec a penalty attempt early in the second half before New Zealand gained its first lead with a try to backrower Du'Plessis Kirifi to start the last quarter. Winger Emilien Gailleton was forced out in the corner in Jordie Barrett's tackle in the 61st minute, preventing France immediately regaining the lead. McAlister's try made the game safe. Center Barrett broke through the French line with a fend and McAlister was at his hip to take the ball, dive and slide over the line. The try denied a brave French team that tested New Zealand to its limits. France named its strongest lineout of the series while New Zealand made 10 changes to its starting lineup from the second test. 'The French really turned up tonight,' All Blacks captain Ardie Savea said. 'I'm proud of the boys really sticking it out in the first half and in the second half we really brought it home.' The All Blacks looked good in the short periods in the first half in which they were able to lift the tempo of the match and they created opportunities from kicks into an unguarded French backfield, one of which led to Jordan's try. But France was able to disrupt New Zealand at the breakdown and won numerous turnovers from the All Blacks lineout. France's goalline defense was superb and New Zealand players were held up over the line on four occasions. The French were also outstanding in the collision area, causing frequent handling errors which disrupted the All Blacks' continuity. A fan released a cockerel, the symbol of French rugby, onto the field during the second half as a tribute to the touring team. ___ AP rugby:
