Piutau sparks All Blacks to win over France

Charles Piutau provided the brilliant edge to boost the All Blacks to a 26-19 win over a spirited France at Stade de France in Paris on Sunday (NZT).
While he scored New Zealand's first try in the 45th minute to break what had been a penalty goal deadlock, it was his magnificent back-of-hand pass to No.8 Kieran Read to see him in for the second try in the 65th minute that was more crucial.
It took New Zealand to a 26-12 lead and while it was the attacking spirit that Piutau infused into the side, he was also superb in his defensive play making some hard tackles on French attackers.
Piutau showed the benefit of the nurturing process the All Blacks management have employed and has given the side enhanced strength in the three-quarters.
A much more competitive France side than that which toured New Zealand for three Tests in June responded to Read's try with their first of the game to fullback Brice Dulin after a concentrated build-up which finally opened up the All Blacks' defences.
There was a great finish to the game as France were held up over the line by some slick work from replacement halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow and in attempting to force the advantage France infringed at a five-metre scrum and New Zealand's defence could finally rest after a demanding scrutiny.
France impressed early with their unity and competitiveness and twice applied pressure to the All Blacks defences in the first half without being able to cross the line.
Loose forwards Thierry Dusautoir, Wenceslas Lauret and Damien Chouly had big games for France and their efforts were much by hard-running first five-eighths Remi Tales, who was strong all game, along with second five-eighths Wesley Fofana, who was a constant threat.
From the first scrum, New Zealand moved the ball with second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu making the break and setting up the ruck which produced quick ball for wing Cory Jane to make his return to the side by diving spectacularly at the corner only to just drop the ball before the grounding.
Penalty goals were exchanged with France's halfback Morgan Parra opening the scoring in the eighth, 24th and 30th minutes and first five-eighths Dan Carter in the 11th, 18th and 26th minutes.
Failure to clear the ball from a French re-start resulted in halfback Aaron Smith having a kick charged down allowing France a period of sustained assault in the All Blacks' 22m area and while the defence was impressive a penalty was conceded and Parra drew the scores level at 9-9 with his goal.
Parra had a chance to reward an immediate return to the All Blacks' 22m after Chouly made space to feed flying Fofana to break deep into the 22m area to again test the defensive structures. However, the French couldn't penetrate and had a chance from a penalty but Parra missed from a handy position.
But he opened the second half with a 42nd minute penalty goal which also brought up his 300th point in Test matches. And once again Carter responded with his fourth two minutes later.
New Zealand showed great intent from the re-start as lock Sam Whitelock took the ball forward and set up ball which saw Dulin put a mid-field kick in. It dipped on fullback Israel Dagg but he took the ball on his knees and flung a long ball across field to Piutau who fed centre Ben Smith.
He slipped a grubber kick through into wide open spaces for Piutau to chase through and out-pace the defence to slide over for the grounding in the 45th minute.
Piutau went close moments later but in diving for another kick through the ball just beat him into touch. However, lock Brodie Retallick stole the French lineout throw, and while France recovered the ball on the ground, it was knocked on and France won the scrum. But New Zealand were penalised.
The game was played after rain earlier and on a surface which was unsound and dug up by every scrum that occurred.
However, New Zealand retained their impressive recent record over France and head to Twickenham for their next encounter against England.
Scorers: France 19 (Brice Dulin try; Morgan Parra con, 4 pen) New Zealand 26 (Charles Piutau, Kieran Read tries; Dan Carter con, 4 pen; Aaron Cruden con). HT: 9-9 

i love All Blacks tests where im 100% confident of the outcome, like the Bok tests for the last two years, :oP
but theres also room for any All Blacks enthusiast for those on the edge of ur seat moments, and the marvelous french did it today.
congrats to the french for giving the All Blacks their first real scare of 2013, it will hold us in good steed as we now look to take on the english.

my take on a few things on the game,,,

best kapo o pango haka ever, dont what separated this one from the others, but i got some major goosebumps watching that.

i have no idea why those idiots in charge messed around with the All Blacks away jersey all those times, clearly the white away jersey is what it should have always have been, IMO its significance is just as important and rish as the black jersey.
let us never see that ugly silver/grey/blghh hybrid wannabe what ever the F that was colour ever again.

the french played out of their skin and then some, and they also had the bulk of the 50/50 calls, but i counted 5 different occasions where the french escaped with nothing, when they should have been penalised.
just how good is this All Blacks team if they play their worst game of the year against a french team who play their best game of the last half decade, with favourable and lucky ref calls??? o_O

did the All Blacks make any first up tackles today??? smart money says no.
or maybe wesley fofanas All Black repellent needs to be clinically tested, cos that was some damn effective tackle breaking skills from fanana splits.

so charles piutau can play 11 like savea, 14 like ben smith and 15 like israel dagg.
i cant help but purrrrrr like a fat content cat when i think about NZ outside back depth and how every country in the world combined still wouldnt come close to matching our depth there.

ben smith, defensively sound at 13, but with ball in hand he offered nothing and created nothing.
its fair to say the ben smith at 13 experiment is not making the grade, but we must persevere and continue to use the EOYT by expanding ben smiths 13 game.
with conrad out of the EOYT picture, were never going to get a better chance then this and the reality is, conrad prob wont be around after the RWC.
or should we cut our losses now and invest the games remaining with someone else, like ryan crotty???
the uchiha clan still give their support to ben smith for 13, but urge a change in his 13 training routine, as whats currently being used aint working.

brodie retallick, gets better and better every game, IMO he is the All Blacks best player in 2013, even better then read whose been another standout.
NZs top locks ranked,,,
1 b retallick
2 s whitelock
3 s luatua
4 l romano
5 j thrush
6 d bird

lastly two tests to go and another of rugbys top dogs has been put down, congrats All Blacks, but time to get over this hard fought win, cos the one test weve been looking forward to all year is finally here.

GO THE MIGHTY MIGHTY ALL BLACKS!!!

@mikey,

i agree it was one of the worst All Black performances, but worst performance by All Black standards, not by any other teams.

the thing to keep in mind is, the All Blacks play their worst game, the french played their best game, the ref favoured the french and the game was played in france, and the All Blacks still won.

 IMO only a champion team like the All Blacks could withstand all those conditions to come away with a win.

playing like that in the future is no worries, the last time All Blacks played like that we lost to england, fast forward to 4 french tests, 3 wallaby tests, 2 Bok and puma tests later, and the All Blacks have a 100% streak and retained all the rugby trophies along the way with it, so no need to be sad, cos even when the All Blacks play poorly ( by their standards) All Blacks are still head and shoulders above everyone else.

All Blacks dont need ben smith on the wing or at fullback, weve got more then enough world class players there, but we do need ben smith at center.
perseverance is the key, the timing and quality of players in the backline means hansen must stay the path and continue bens 13 journey.
dont worry about ben, hansens not destorying him, after all hes a kiwi not a saffa,