New Zealand 31 France 23
Rookie wing Joe Rokocoko scored a hat-trick of tries before halftime to lead New Zealand to a 31-23 victory over France today.
Rokocoko touched down in the 14th, 20th and 27th minutes as New Zealand exploited gaps in a poor French defence, while inside centre Daniel Carter contributed 16 points with the boot.
France, who also lost two tests in Argentina, scored tries through prop Sylvain Marconnet and centre Yannick Jauzion, with flyhalf Frederic Michalak and his replacement Gerard Merceron contributing 10 points. Damien Traille also kicked a long-range penalty.
New Zealand captain Ruben Thorne spent the last 10 minutes of the match in the sinbin, during which time France scored 10 points to get within five of the hosts before Carter's fourth penalty sealed victory.
"That was a better performance for us because we were playing such a good team," said France coach Bernard Laporte.
"Had we played as well in Argentina we would have won the two tests. This was the best match of the tour and although we didn't win a match on tour, I am very happy.
The All Blacks had dominated the first half, constantly punching holes in the French line, particularly through the middle of the breakdown with openside flanker Richie McCaw and number eight Jerry Collins to the fore. Rokocoko's second try showed glimpses of what the public have come to expect from New Zealand from first phase possession and was the best of the match.
The forwards won a lineout on halfway and the ball was fed to flyhalf Carlos Spencer who drew the defenders outside before an exquisitely timed inside pass enabled the winger to slice through and outstrip the covering defence.
After Rokocoko's third try, New Zealand had gone out to a 19-3 lead and looked like they could run away with the game but then conceded a penalty and soft try when Marconnet rumbled through a gap from an inside pass by Michalak to send the visitors into the interval 19-13 down.
After the break the All Blacks seemed to lose their fizz and were only able to add three Carter penalties to their score.
However, Thorne was then sinbinned for punching and France struck back with Jauzion's try when he cut back through a poor midfield defence before Traille's penalty.
Thorne said his side would still need to work on several areas, particularly the lineout where France stole five All Blacks' throws, ahead of the Tri-nations.
"They did their homework on our lineouts and that is a bit of a worry about our play," said Thorne. "We'll have to do a bit of work on that, but we'll be right for the Tri-nations.
Teams: New Zealand- 15-Mils Muliaina; 14-Doug Howlett, 13-Tana Umaga, 12-Daniel Carter, 11-Joe Rokocoko; 10-Carlos Spencer, 9-Steve Devine (20-Byron Kelleher, 61); 8-Jerry Collins (19-Marty Holah, 75), 7-Richie McCaw, 6-Reuben Thorne (captain), 5-Ali Williams (18-Brad Thorn, 55), 4-Chris Jack, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Anton Oliver (16-Keven Mealamu, 54), 1-Dave Hewett (17-Kees Meeuws, 65).
France- 15-Clement Poitrenaud; 14-Aurellen Rougerie, 13-Yannick Jauzion, 12-Damien Traille, 11-Vincent Clerc; 10-Frederic Michalak (21-Gerald Merceron, 65), 9-Fabien Galthie (captain); 8-Elvis Vermeulen (20-Christian Labat, 53), 7-Patrick Tabacco, 6-Imanol Harinordoquy (19-Sebastien Chabal, 40), 5-Jerome Thion, 4-Lionel Nallet (18-David Auradou, 49), 3-Nicholas Mas (17-Pieter de Villiers, 11), 2-Yannick Bru, 1-Sylvain Marconnet.
Referee: Andre Watson (South Africa)