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.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 14 minutes
Japan will attack from just outside the Scotland 22. Siosaia Fifita, all seventeen and a bit stone of him, is asked to carry from his blindside wing, and he makes a decent dent, before Scotland are again whistled at the ruck. Hamish Watson is legal in his pilferin attempt but Chris Harris is not, lying on the wrong side and disrupting the Japan clearout. Rikiya Matsuda again gestures to the touchline for the tee...
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 12 minutes
This is a promising start from Japan. They are varying their angles well to win the gainline and forcing Scotland to infringe in order to slow ball that is largely coming rapidly. Grant Gilchrist is the man penalised this time - he fails to roll away having made a tackle. Brendon Pickerill setting an early disciplinarian tone.
PENALTY! Scotland 5-3 JAPAN (Rikiya Matsuda penalty, 11 minutes)
Over it goes from the crisp right foot of Rikiya Matsuda. Japan on the board.
Scotland 5-0 Japan, 10 minutes
Kazuki Himeno is launched into the Scottish defensive line darting from midfield off of the lineout, but he has to stall slightly on the pass and is well handled by George Turner and Hamish Watson, the openside low, the hooker high.
Scotland then infringe at a ruck, though, Watson over-balancing in trying to jackal and pinged for his hands going beyond the ball - and unlike Scotland, Japan are happy to take the three points...
Scotland 5-0 Japan, 8 minutes
Russell then thumps a clearance long but back come Japan with pace and intent. Kotaro Matsushima gets the ball in space for the first time and nearly puts Chris Harris on his back with a fierce right-footed step, but Harris grabs him by the waist and brings the left wing down.
Advantage is coming for Japan, though, as Siosaia Fifita is felled on the opposite wing. Back we will come for that penalty as Japan fail to find momentum - Ali Price had strayed around the edge of a ruck and was offside. Japan kick down to the fringes of the 22.
TRY! SCOTLAND 5-0 Japan (Duhan van der Merwe try, 7 minutes)
Duhan van der Merwe crashes over! He’s built rather like a forward and enjoys the rough stuff in tight, and the winger sniffs a score as he dives off his wing for a reasonably close ruck, picking, going, and receiving just enough support from his teammates to get the ball down. Impressive leg drive against two front-rowers.
Finn Russell strikes the upright with his conversion attempt but that’s a very pleasing start for Scotland.
Scotland 0-0 Japan, 6 minutes
Japan get their maul defence right initially, able to stop the Scotish forwards gaining momentum. Scotland stay patient and change the point of emphasis and rive well to within five metres...
Scotland 0-0 Japan, 4 minutes
There are Japanese bodies on the floor as a Scottish maul fails to properly develop but the referee is happy enough to ask Scotland to play away. They duly do so, Sam Johnson making metres, and Japan are then offside.
What can Finn Russell do with the free play? He arcs something ambitious towards the touchline, a great flowing fling of the oval ball in the direction of a loose forward lurking with chalk on their boots, but it is too tall, and flies into touch.
Back for the penalty, and Stuart Hogg asks his fly-half to put Scotland in the corner. Russell hits five metres.
Scotland 0-0 Japan, 3 minutes
And that’s reward for Scotland - a lazy forward runner was offside in chasing Yutaka Nagare’s box kick and the home side have a penalty on halfway. Finn Russell pouts it down inside the Japan 22.
Scotland 0-0 Japan, 2 minutes
Murrayfield has been silenced by an enterprising start from Japan, moving the ball left and then right and able to work the phases superbly. Japan work some intricate handling for the first time but Scotland line up their men well, Ali Price filling a gap in the line excellently. Steve Tandy’s defence just about holding out well, and eventually they force Japan to kick as midfield ball stalls.
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