Players ratings: Close, but no cigar
France, as they often do, threatened to upset New Zealand. In the end they lost 19-26. It was thrilling and entertaining.
Mistakes probably cost the French most – missed kicks at goal and some sloppy handling.
But they certainly made the All Blacks work for the win in Paris.
Jan de Koning rates the French players:
15 Brice Dulin:
The stats will suggest he made plenty of metres, 70 in total, but he was steady rather than spectacular.
5/10
14 Yoann Huget:
Easily shrugged of Charles Piutau and missed just one tackle of his own.
6/10
13 Florian Fritz:
Big tackle on Israel Dagg early in the game and made a few other big hits. Missed just one tackle.
6/10
12 Wesley Fofana:
Found holes in the usually solid Kiwi defence, beat defenders and made all his tackles.
7/10
11 Maxime Medard:
Did well to tackle Cory Jane into touch in the first minute and had a few decent runs, but slipped a crucial; tackle.
6/10
10 Remi Tales:
Made his tackles, but some of his kicks left a little to be desired.
5/10
9 Morgan Parra:
Missed kicks at goal, missed tackles and his service was below par.
4/10
8 Damien Chouly:
Other than his line-out work and a few good tackles, his influence on the game was not always obvious.
6/10
7 Wenceslas Lauret:
Some good carries, made plenty of metres and made all his tackles.
7/10
6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain):
He imposed himself on the game at the breakdown, although his workrate on defence could have been higher.
6/10
5 Yoann Maestri:
Won a couple of line-outs and made a handful of tackles, but also disappeared at time.
5/10
4 Pascal Pape:
Had some really big carries and made all his tackles, but he should have (could have) been used more in the line-outs.
6/10
3 Nicolas Mas:
Was blown for 'bailing out' in a scrum, but otherwise had a solid set piece game. Also missed a tackle.
6/10
2 Benjamin Kayser:
Very poor workrate and you only saw him occasionally.
4/10
1 Yannick Forestier:
Penalised in a first-half scrum, but generally had the better of Owen Franks. Could have worked harder on defence.
6/10
Replacements:
16 Dimitri Szarzewski (on for Kayser, 52nd minute):
He enjoys carrying the ball and made all his tackles.
6/10
17 Vincent Debaty (on for Forestier, 60th min):
No impact on the game.
4/10
18 Rabah Slimani (on for Mas, 56th min):
No impact on the game.
4/10
19 Sebastien Vahaamahina (on for Maestri, 56th min):
Made a couple of tackles and won a line-out, but nothing spectacular.
5/10
20 Antonie Claassen (on for Lauret, 73rd min):
Not enough time to be rated.
21 Jean-Marc Doussain (on for Parra, 76th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Camille Lopez:
Not used.
23 Gael Fickou (on for Fritz, 76th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
