The national rugby union teams of France and New Zealand (the All Blacks) have been playing each other for over a century. The first encounter, during the historic 1905–1906 All Blacks tour of Europe and North America, which was also France's first test, took place in Paris in January 1906 and was won by New Zealand 38–8. It was not until their third meeting, in 1954, that France secured their first win over New Zealand 3–0.
France first toured New Zealand in 1961, before any of the Home Nations, with the All Blacks winning all three tests. The All Blacks' first full tour of France was in 1977, when they won one of the two tests. France first defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand on Bastille Day 1979. France achieved a first series win in New Zealand in 1994, when they won both tests. The two teams have contested the Dave Gallaher Trophy since 2000.
The teams' World Cup history includes eight matches, the joint most for any pair of teams. They have played two tournament finals, in 1987 and 2011 (both at Eden Park and both won by New Zealand).
Overall, the All Blacks have won 51 tests against France's 15, with one match drawn. The largest winning margin in a test match between the countries was a 61–10 victory to the All Blacks at Westpac Stadium in Wellington in 2007. The most career points scored by members of either team is 92 by Andrew Mehrtens, and he also holds the record for most points in one match with 29 points.
Despite the vastly superior win record of New Zealand, France's 15 wins against the All Blacks is more than any other Northern Hemisphere opponent has achieved. France are sometimes called the "bogey" team of New Zealand, known for having inconsistent results in regular test matches, but have proven to be fierce opponents in the knockout stage of the Rugby World Cup. All Black campaigns in The Rugby World Cup were halted by defeats to France in 1999 and 2007, and were nearly upset again in 2011 with a very narrow 8–7 victory in the final.
History Early meetings (1905–1925)
The first-ever New Zealand tour to the Northern Hemisphere was in 1905–06. It was also the first time they wore a black strip and the first time they performed the haka. The team – known today as "The Original All Blacks" – played various club and national sides throughout the British Isles before taking on France on 1 January 1906. This was France's first test and was held at Parc des Princes, Paris. The All Blacks scored ten tries, including six in the second half, to France's two, and won 38–8. Despite the scoreline, France's two tries were more than any previous team had scored against the All Blacks on tour. Commenting on the state of French rugby in their book The Complete Rugby Footballer, Original All Blacks Dave Gallaher and Billy Stead wrote: "We are strongly of the opinion that the game will spread in their country and that in the course of time they will put a team in the field which will command the utmost respect of any other."
The 1924–25 All Blacks' Invincibles tour included a test against France. The teams met at the Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse on 18 January 1925.31st All Blacks Test Although French rugby had improved since 1906, the All Blacks still won 30–6, with France scoring two tries. All Blacks' captain Cliff Porter said of France "Your forwards gave us a lot of bother. Your three-quarters were not so good."Potter (1961), p. 175.
In 1926, France lost to the New Zealand Maori.Potter (1961), p. 102. Perhaps the "most celebrated Maori side in history", they undertook a seven-month 1926–27 tour of Australia, Ceylon, France, Wales and Canada, playing 38 matches, winning 29 and losing seven, with two draws.BBC News (June 2003) In total, the Maori scored 712 points while conceding 215."New Zealand Maori Rugby Tour" This was the last match between a New Zealand representative team and France for nearly three decades. In 1932 the International Rugby Football Board (IRB) expelled France from the Five Nations Championship for breaching the professionalism rules in its domestic club competition. Consequently, the All Blacks did not face France during their 1935 British Isles' tour. Although France was readmitted in 1939, the Second World War intervened, suspending international competition.
In 1946, France played two matches against a team selected from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, nicknamed the "Khaki All Blacks". Despite the team not being a representative New Zealand side, they included many future All Blacks. The games took place on 10 March at Stade Colombes, Paris, and on 24 March at Wallon Stadium, Toulouse. The Khaki All Blacks won both (14–9 and 13–10).Whatman (2005), p. 139."Postwar revolutionaries"
Post war (1954–1968) The 1954 match at Stade Colombes, Paris, was dominated by the All Blacks who had the majority of possession and territory. Despite this, France scored in the 35th minute after the ball was lost by All Blacks' half-back Keith Davis from France's line. The ball was picked up by French number eight Robert Baulon who passed to Paul Labadie. Labadie then passed to French captain Jean Prat who scored a try, giving France a 3–0 lead that the All Blacks failed to close.Potter (1961), p. 103. Although New Zealand relentlessly attacked the French line – and made several drop goal and penalty attempts – the French defence held, earning France their first win (3–0) over the All Blacks.
France first toured New Zealand in 1961 – before any of the Home Nations.Palenski (2003), p. 51. The first test at Eden Park was won 13–6 by the All Blacks after they scored two converted tries and a penalty. France's first five-eighth Pierre Albaladejo kicked all of France's points with two drop goals, prompting the New Zealanders to nickname him "Monsieur Drop"."105th All Black Test" The second test of the tour was played at Athletic Park in Wellington."106th All Black Test" The wind was very strong and neither team scored during the first half. In the second, playing into the wind, France scored a try to lead 3–0. The All Blacks' Kel Tremain responded with a try. In one of the best conversions of his career, Don Clarke kicked almost parallel to the goal-line, relying on the strong wind to gust the ball over the posts. The Blacks won 5–3.Palenski (2003), p. 52. Although the All Blacks won the final test in Christchurch 32–3 to take the series, the tour had a positive influence in France where it was broadcast on national television via satellite, popularising the sport beyond its traditional heartland of the southwest.Dine (2001), p. 131.
The next two matches between the teams were both in Paris. The All Blacks won the first 12–3 in 1964 after tries from Ralph Caulton and Ken Gray. In the next match, in 1967, the All Blacks were coached by Fred Allen and captained by Brian Lochore; they won 21–15.
In 1968, following their first Five Nations Grand Slam, France toured Australia and New Zealand. They were defeated in their test against Australia and in all three against the All Blacks. The All Blacks' side was particularly strong and won all its tests between 1965 and 1970. France's touring losses presaged a string of defeats that did not end until they drew against Wales in the 1969 Five Nations (in which France finished last).Dine (2001), p. 154.
Full amateur tours (1970–1994) France achieved only their second test victory over the All Blacks in 1973 at Parc des Princes, Paris."158th All Black Test" The All Blacks had defeated England, Scotland and Wales, and drawn with Ireland on their 1973 tour and France was their last test. France won 13–6, and scored two tries to nil, with two penalties the only points from the All Blacks.Palenski (2003), p. 53. In 1977 the All Blacks made their first-ever full tour of France. France won the first test in Toulouse and the All Blacks the second in Paris. France then reciprocated and toured New Zealand in 1979. This time, neutral referees were appointed for the first time. The All Blacks won the first test 23–9 at Lancaster Park. However, in the second test, France upset the All Blacks by winning 24–19 on Bastille Day at Eden Park. The victory was France's first win in New Zealand over the All Blacks.Palenski (2003), p. 55.
The 1980s saw many France – New Zealand tests. The first two were in 1981 when the All Blacks toured France, visiting in Toulouse and Paris; the All Blacks won both tests, 13–9 and 18–6 respectively. In 1984, France visited New Zealand for two tests. They lost the first, at Lancaster Park, 10–9 (despite repeated French drop goal attempts late in the match, nearly all in front of the posts from various distances) and the second, at Eden Park, 31–18.
In 1986, France played a one-off test in New Zealand, at Lancaster Park. Many top All Blacks were serving a two-month suspension for participating in the rebel Cavaliers tour to South Africa. The team that faced France became known as the "Baby Blacks" as all bar two of them were either making their test début or were very inexperienced."GordonMacpherson" The Baby Blacks upset France 18–9 in front of 24,000 spectators; the only try coming from number eight Mike Brewer."220th All Black Test"
Later in 1986, the bans served, the full All Blacks toured France. They won the first test, in Toulouse, 19–7. Their next match, at Nantes, became known as "the battle of Nantes".Palenski (2003), p. 61. France played aggressively and tried to intimidate the All Blacks. All Black Buck Shelford had his scrotum rucked in the twentieth minute that required stitches while he was still on the field. He was later knocked out, losing several teeth in the process, and did not finish the match.Quinn (2005); Soneji (2002) The aggressive display by France paid off and they won 16–3.
The following year France and the All Blacks met in the final of the inaugural Rugby World Cup. The tournament was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia and the final was held at Eden Park. The All Blacks were captained by David Kirk and went on to win their first World Cup 29–9."231st All Black Test" According to the All Blacks' coach at the time, Brian Lochore, the previous year's loss in Nantes was the catalyst for their World Cup victory.Smith (2006) Shelford said of the match "We wanted to play them in the final because we wanted revenge".Kayes (2006) The match also helped improve the diplomatic and political rift between France and New Zealand caused by the 1985 bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by French Secret Service agents.Dine (2001), p. 136.
France toured New Zealand in 1989 and played a two test series. They lost both tests; the first 25–17 at Lancaster Park, and the second 34–20 at Eden Park. In both tests the All Blacks led at the half time break, with France responding by scoring most of their points during the first 15 minutes of the second half before the All Blacks counter-attacked to win in the last quarter.The Times (1989) The All Blacks' reciprocal tour of France came in 1990. Again two tests were played and again they were won by the All Blacks; 24–3 at Nantes, and 30–12 at the Parc de Princes. The All Blacks first-five eighth Grant Fox, dominated both matches, scoring 16 points in the first test,Le Guernigou (1990) and 22 points in the second.Mehaffey (1990)