CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand opened rugby’s inaugural Nations Championship, and a new era under head coach Dave Rennie, with an ambitious but deeply-flawed 34-32 win over France on Saturday.Rennie called for two qualities from the All Blacks, brutality and optimism, and they produced both but only in patches. Errors of execution and discipline forced by the relentlessness of a French team stripped of many of its leading players meant New Zealand was unable to secure its win until the final minutes.Scrumhalf Cam Roigard and winger Will Jordan scored two tries each as the All Blacks won by five tries to four, extending their winning streak at home against France to 17 years.France rocked New Zealand with a try by Damien Penaud after two minutes in a movement which led to a yellow card for new All Blacks flyhalf Ruben Love.
The All Blacks scored with 14 men to set alight a thrilling contest in which the lead see-sawed and France gave the hosts no breathing space.Jordan’s second try gave the All Blacks their peak lead at nine points with 10 minutes left but a final try to Matthieu Jalibert two minutes from the end cut the lead to two points and made the dying moments nail-biting.
