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.
TRY! SCOTLAND 12-6 Japan (Stuart Hogg try, 28 minutes)
Stuart Hogg is over and that is the record score! The Scotland captain becomes his country’s all-time leading men’s try scorer!
Unsurprisingly it comes from the pass of Finn Russell, drawing two to him with a carry close to the line and then fizzing a nice pass to Hogg on an unders line, the full-back just fading on the ball to take it into a gap and grinning as he dots the ball down.
25 tries for Hogg to take the record outright - Russell adds two more from the tee.
Scotland 5-6 Japan, 27 minutes
Where’s Stuart Hogg going? The Scotland captain scythes through a great chasm in a chasing Japanese line and bursts between the bodies into the visitors’ backfield. Quick ball and on Scotland go, making more metres up the middle as Japan struggle to reset.
PENALTY! Scotland 5-6 JAPAN (Rikiya Matsuda penalty, 25 minutes)
A cleaner stroke over the top of the tee from Rikiya Matsuda and Japan are into a not underserved lead.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 24 minutes
Wing against prop and that isn’t going to end well for Scotland! Kotaro Matsushima picks out Zander Fagerson toiling in the open pasture and runs right around the tighthead, Fagerson chugging along in vain to try and stay with Matsushima but in the end not within sniffing distance.
Matushima nearly dances past the last defender but Stuart Hogg gets enough of an arm to his thigh to slow the Clermont Auvergne flyer, but Scotland are again penalised for a tackler rolling away incorrectly as Japan look to build an attack. For a third time the tee is called for - this is the simplest of the lot.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 23 minutes
A touch harsh? George Turner’s throw drifts ever so slightly off-line but there is no room for error in the minds of the officials - the slanted throw took it out of leaping Japanese hands and it will be a scrum to the visitors.
The set-piece is stable and Japan thread a diagonal grubber inside the Scotland 22.
Scotland play quickly! Plenty of adventure in this first half from both sides but the hosts do eventually clear.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 22 minutes
Japan attack from a lineout on the right and pass the ball along the line, a little short of accuracy but still able to get it to the edge even as Chris Harris gives Kotaro Matsushima a healthy tonking.
Siosaia Fifita busts out of one tackle but then finds another offload fail to find safe inside hands. Indeed, the wing was in touch, anyway - Scotland lineout.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 19 minutes
Outstanding covering defence from Rikiya Matsuda! Scotland drive well and draw in the Japan defence, the home side playing away at the right time and plenty of options presenting themselves. Sam Johnson feigns a carry and dabs a lovely little grubber though for Chris Harris to chase, and but for some superb scooting across to gather it ahead of the centre from Matsuda, Harris would have scored beneath the posts. Sharp work from the fly-half, who then allows his side to clear with more fleet footwork.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 18 minutes
Statement at the scrum! Scotland struggled a touch last week but Jamie Bhatti, making his first Scotland start since August 2019, gets a nudge on Asaeli Ai Valu and draws the penalty from Brendon Pickerill. Scotland back inside the Japan 22 with Finn Russell’s banana-style touch-finder.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 16 minutes
That’s a delicious pass! Scotland kick the 22 dropout long and Japan bring it back, playing to width down the left once more. Shogo Nakano produces a majestic fizzed miss ball out to Siosaia Fifita as he is clattered by a tackler, Fifita charging on and getting a nifty offload inside as he is driven out.
Unfortunately, a knock-on from captain Lappies Labuschagne ends a promising attacking movement. Some pass from the very talented Nakano, though.
Missed Penalty! Scotland 5-3 Japan (15 minutes)
That’s not particularly pleasant. Like a sliced five-iron approach, this starts online but very quickly skews right in the ugly flight of a wounded duck. Matsuda slaps his hands in frustration. Not one of his better kicks at goal.
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