AFP – New Zealand crushed an under-strength France 43-17 in the second Test in Wellington yesterday, scoring six tries to clinch the three-match series.
The All Blacks bounced back from a nervous 31-27 win in the first Test in Dunedin with a commanding performance against an inexperienced French side who made 10 changes to their starting line-up.
Led by a dominant forward display, the home side were more clinical in converting scoring positions into points in Wellington, having had three tries disallowed a week earlier.
While the All Blacks made two injury-enforced changes from the first Test, French coach Fabien Galthie removed a core of experienced players to name a starting side with just 60 Test caps between them.
Four starting French forwards were making their debuts and it showed as the home side dominated the breakdown and lineout in particular, giving a solid platform for standout scrum-half Cam Roigard to control the contest.
-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin