France vs New Zealand LIVE: Rugby result and final score as All Blacks conclude 2021 Autumn Nations Series
Les Bleus clinched a first victory over the All Blacks since 2009 and a first win at the Stade de France since 1973
France held off a second-half fightback from New Zealand to claim a 40-25 victory in Paris and end a 14-match losing streak against the All Blacks.
New Zealand, looking for an immediate response to last weekend’s 29-20 loss to Ireland, trailed 24-6 at half-time as a rampant Les Blues took complete control at the Stade de France.
However, three tries in 12 minutes after the interval - from Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Ardie Savea - saw New Zealand close to within two points of their hosts at 27-25, as well as becoming the first team in Test match history to score 100 tries in a single season.
At that point French hopes of a first win over the three-time World Cup winners since 2009 looked to be fading fast, but an incident in the 63rd minute saw the pendulum swing back their way.
Savea was sin-binned to reduce New Zealand to 14 men and France took full advantage with Melvyn Jaminet slotting over the resulting penalty before Damian Penaud broke away for an interception try.
At 37-25 down, there was no way back for New Zealand and France, who had seen Peato Mauvaka score twice either side of Romain Ntamack’s try in a dominant first-half display, wrapped up a memorable win with Jaminet’s late penalty.
PENALTY! England 17-15 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard penalty, 54 minutes)
This time Handre Pollard hits the mark from bang in front. That’s him done for the day, too - Elton Jantjies replaces him.
England make a change: Sam Underhill goes off, Alex Dombrandt’s rather contrasting frame replacing him.
England 17-12 South Africa, 53 minutes
England just starting to struggle to arrest momentum. Another fumble in their own territory means Steward’s next clearance isn’t as long as he would have liked and England are caught with their hands in the cookie jar after a ruck has concluded. Another penalty to be directed at goal.
England 17-12 South Africa, 52 minutes
Very good from Freddie Steward. He takes a high ball under major pressure, claims the mark and reacts well to South Africa’s retreat to clear in relative comfort before they can assemble a charging-down party to trouble him.
England 17-12 South Africa, 49 minutes
Scrum penalty South Africa! Vincent Koch drives through Joe Marler, Steven Kitshoff through Kyle Sinckler, and England are penalised.
South Africa make another change - Le Roux’s mishandling is his final major action as Frans Steyn comes on, adding a properly long-range kicking option.
England 17-12 South Africa, 49 minutes
Two superb high bombs from England give Willie Le Roux kittens, the first bouncing from his shoulder, the second from his hands, and a knock-on means England will have a scrum.
And to feed it will be Raffi Quirke! A bit of a surprise - England trusting their young half-backs.
Missed Penalty! England 17-12 South Africa, 48 minutes
One missed right, now one away to the left - Pollard left his kicking boots in the changing room at half-time, evidently.
Here comes England’s Bomb Squad defuser - Joe Marler ready to unleash the pent-up frustration of ten days in isolation after contracting Covid-19.
England 17-12 South Africa, 46 minutes
Twice Freddie Steward claims high hoists from South Africa, first leaping, then on the run. He’s looked rock solid, again.
Kyle Sinckler bobbles a pass as he carries for contact and is thus rather exposed as Malcolm Marx gives him a free rib tickle. The replacement hooker launches Sinckler backwards, and England are penalised at the ruck. A chance for Pollard to atone from 42 metres, left of centre, as Joe Marler readies himself.
England 17-12 South Africa, 45 minutes
Chance missed for the Springboks! It’s delightful attacking play down the right as Damian De Allende tiptoes into space with an in-to-out shimmy, finding his captain out the back door.
Jesse Kriel has open acreage in front of him but overruns slightly and can’t get a hand on Kolisi’s backwards offload. He holds his head in his hands - that was a try for all money if Kolisi had found him.
Missed Penalty! England 17-12 South Africa, 44 minutes
Starts right, stays right - a first miss of the afternoon for Handre Pollard.
That scrum munching is the last action of South Africa’s starting front row - here come the “Bomb Squad”. Messrs Marx, Kitshoff and Koch replace Nche, Mbonambi and Nyakane.
England 17-12 South Africa, 43 minutes
That’s a statement from South Africa! For the first time they get a proper nudge on at scrum time and Kyle Sinckler steps out to try and stall it. He’s penalised, and Handre Pollard will try to get the scoring started in this second 40 minutes...
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