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.
Team News - South Africa
South Africa make three changes to the side that beat Scotland a week ago. Cobus Reinach unites with club colleague Handre Pollard in the halves with Faf de Klerk a longer term absentee, while converted centre Jesse Kriel continues to cover for a similarly stricken Cheslin Kolbe.
Jacques Nienaber has this week picked Lood de Jäger ahead of Franco Moster to form an almost comically huge second row connection with the outstanding Eben Etzebeth. Kwagga Smith and Siya Kolisi’s partnership on the flanks has begun to coalesce nicely.
Beware, too, the Bomb Squad, this week consisting of five forwards and three backs but hardly short of explosive power. Malcolm Marx might be the best hooker in the world, while Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch are hardly shrinking violets. Then there is Frans Steyn, hardly short of weight and still booming over long-distance penalties 15 years after his Test debut.
Team News - England
With Jamie George and Owen Farrell out until the new year at least with injuries and Ellis Genge still in isolation, England are short of several key individuals. Bevan Rodd retains his starting place at loose head while there is a start for Jamie Blamire in George’s stead, backed up by Leicester hooker Nic Dolly, who was playing Championship rugby in the spring.
The back five in the pack remains intact for a third week running but there is a reshuffle behind them. After being named on the wing but lining up everywhere but against Australia, Manu Tuilagi is back in the centres, outside Marcus Smith and inside Henry Slade in what appears a balance midfield.
Joe Marchant is this week’s slightly surprise pick on the right wing, with England keen on his ability under the high ball and defensive decision-making. There is also the Harlequins connection with Smith, of course.
A 6-2 bench split means places in the 23 again for Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds, who impressed off the pine a week ago.
On to England vs South Africa...
That concludes our live coverage of Scotland’s win over Japan, but we’ll have plenty of reaction and analysis over the next couple of days.
On to today’s second marquee matchup, and boy is it a big’un - for the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final it is England against South Africa with plenty of scores to be settled...
England out to soothe World Cup scars against scorned South Africa
Rassie Erasmus’s ban has provided an unpleasant backdrop to a titanic game needing little extra spice
Player of the Match Chris Harris speaks to Amazon Prime Video
“It’s been quality for us. I don’t think we played our best last week and today wasn’t our best either but we did enough. Very mixed emotions,” says Chris Harris. “We did some really good stuff but we let Japan into the game - they were brilliant. They kept chipping away. But we got the win. Three wins from four is awesome.”
Scotland 29-20 Japan
Victory for Scotland, who were below their best against a Japan side with plenty of adventure but just short of a degree of execution at times. That’s by no means a bad result for either side - Japan haven’t played too much rugby since the World Cup and they showed some very, very nice things in possession, while Scotland continue to build a winning habit despite a setback against South Africa last weekend.
PENALTY! SCOTLAND 29-20 Japan (Finn Russell penalty, 79 minutes)
Posts bisected, three more points on the board and victory secured for Scotland. Chris Harris is named the player of the match, and that may just do us...
Scotland 26-20 Japan, 78 minutes
Curiously, Scotland have to have a discussion over what to do here - a kick at goal is surely the option and is eventually settled on by the Scottish leadership committee. Finn Russell takes the tee and will take every second he can as he tries to push Scotland out of reach of a single score...
Scotland 26-20 Japan, 77 minutes
Stability and Scotland are secure in possesion. Pierre Schoeman hits a brilliant line to create a fissure and Scotland then have advantage as Japan rush up offside in a bid to prevent Finn Russell exploiting space on the right - it works, but Japan are penalised. That’ll end their chances, you’d think.
Scotland 26-20 Japan, 76 minutes
A hefty shove from the Scottish eight, powered now on the tighthead by another debutant in Javan Sebastian, who has taken the road less travelled through the Welsh leagues to make a deserved Scotland debut. Just a reset, but that’ll suit Scotland as the time ticks by.
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