France and New Zealand played to a 20-20 draw in Paris, after the scores were also level at 10-10 at half-time. But the result could have swung in France's favour after a bizarre incident late in the game.
With the scores tied and less than three minutes of playing time left, French flyhalf François Gelez aimed a very kickable penalty at the sticks. But during his run-up, the ball fell over and referee Scott Young of Australia awarded a scrum to the All Blacks, ruling that Gelez was not allowed to run with the ball, this after the home team's pivot had picked it up, seemingly unsure of the rules.
Just minutes later, deep into injury-time, Gelez had a chance to redeem himself when the All Blacks conceded another kickable penalty, but sadly for the French their normally sound goalkicker pulled his kick wide and the final whistle sounded.
These were not the only incidents during this tightly contested affair, and the All Blacks had to play 30 minutes of the game with only 14 players, as three New Zealanders were sin-binned in the first half.
While Christian Cullen can perhaps feel a bit aggrieved by his yellow card -- he was judged to have committed a professional foul after intercepting from the "wrong side" close to his own tryline -- Kees Meeuws (in the ninth minute) and Mark Robinson (on the stroke of half-time) were binned for punching.
With Meeuws cooling off, the French opened the scoring when Olivier Magne crashed over from the ensuing line-out after the All Black tighthead's offence. Gelez added the two points, and the home team were deservedly leading by 7-0.
Andrew Mehrtens closed the gap slightly with his first penalty, and a couple of minutes later, Meeuws scored the visitors' first try after a clever dummy from a line-out maul. The burly front rower crossed the French line unopposed and Mehrtens put the All Blacks ahead by 10-7 with the conversion.
But the French did not change their approach to the game, and kept on attacking at every opportunity.
In the 30th minute Les Bleus looked certain to score their second try when two French backs were in a two-on-one situation in the New Zealand 22, but Cullen intercepted the ball as he was running back to defend, the referee then sending the experienced No.15 to the sin bin, much to the bemusement of his team-mates.
The All Blacks foiled the home team's attack from the line-out, and the French were back in the middle of the field.
However, Robinson's yellow -- he allegedly punched Serge Betsen after the French flanker did not let go on the ground -- led to the penalty that saw Gelez level the scores at the break.
The second half did not really start too well for both sides, but the Kiwis probably felt more satisfied as they scored the only points -- a penalty by Mehrtens -- with Robinson still off the field.
Both teams were set on playing running rugby, but errors crept into the game as some flamboyant passes were slung around the Stade de France pitch.
The French pack gained ascendancy in the second half, putting the All Black scrum and line-out under increased pressure, but the New Zealand defence was solid, and France could do nothing to breach the visitors' line.
However, during a brilliant period of play between the 64th and 67th minutes Tana Umaga and Nicolas Brusque scored good tries, both resulting from superb angled running.
First Umaga received a pop-pass from Mehrtens, changed his running direction slightly before speeding away for a converted try under the sticks.
Then Brusque received a good pass from Imanol Harinordoquy and also, by running straight as the defence shifted past him, scored a try ruled perfectly legal by the Television Match Official as he slid over under a heap of All Black bodies.
Ten minutes after converting Brusque's try, Gelez levelled the scores with his second penalty, and the score did not change again, with Les Bleus and the All Blacks playing to their first-ever draw at Test level, as Gelez's late kicking nightmare unfolded infront of an expectant home crowd.
Man of the match: There were quite a few contenders here. The French loose forwards -- Serge Betsen, Olivier Magne and Imanol Harinordoquy -- played very well, as did Raphael Ibanez and Fabien Galthié. For New Zealand Brad Mika, Marty Holah and Umaga had good games, but the French No.8, Imanol Harinordoquy, was the best in the end.
Moment of the Match: The incident with François Gelez and the ball falling off its tee was pretty bizarre, but Tana Umaga and Nicholas Brusque's tries, both scored after good passing and superb angled running, were pretty special during a game that did not really live up to expectations.
Villain of the Match: There were three yellow cards, but the two players who were sin-binned for punching -- Kees Meeuws and Mark Robinson -- win this dubious award in a game that had it's fair share of pushing and shoving.
The Teams:
New Zealand: 1 Joe McDonnell, 2 Andrew Hore, 3 Kees Meeuws, 4 Ali Williams, 5 Brad Mika, 6 Marty Holah, 7 Taine Randell (c), 8 Sam Broomhall, 9 Danny Lee, 10 Andrew Mehrtens, 11 Doug Howlett, 12 Tana Umaga, 13 Mark Robinson, 14 Jonah Lomu, 15 Christian Cullen
Reserves: Carl Hayman, Keith Robinson
Unused: Keven Mealamu, Ben Blair, Steve Devine, Rodney So'oialo, Paul Steinmetz
France: 1 Jean-Jacques Crenca, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 3 Pieter De Villiers, 4 Olivier Brouzet, 5 Fabien Pelous, 6 Serge Betsen Tchoua, 7 Olivier Magne, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 9 Fabien Galthie (c), 10 Francois Gelez, 11 Vincent Clerc, 12 Thomas Castaignede, 13 Damien Traille, 14 Cedric Heymans, 15 Nicolas Brusque
Reserves: Sebastien Chabal
Unused: Xavier Garbajosa, Gerald Merceron, Thibault Privat, Jean-Baptiste Rue, Sylvain Marconnet, Dimitri Yachvili
Referee: Young s.
Points Scorers:
New Zealand
Tries: Meeuws K.J. 1, Umaga J.F. 1
Conv: Mehrtens A.P. 2
Pen K.: Mehrtens A.P. 2
France
Tries: Brusque N. 1, Magne O. 1
Conv: Gelez F. 2
Pen K.: Gelez F. 2
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