Nations Championship

New Zealand (19) 34

Tries: Jordan 2, Lakai, Roigard 2 Cons: Love 3 Pen: Love

France (13) 32

Tries: Penaud, Hastoy, Attisogbe, Jalibert Cons: Lucu 2, Hastoy Pens: Lucu 2

Will Jordan scored twice to help New Zealand beat France as the inaugural Nations Championship opened with a captivating, nine-try thriller in Christchurch.

Prolific wing Jordan struck in the seventh and 71st minute to hand new All Blacks boss Dave Rennie a winning start and move within two of Doug Howlett’s record 49 tries for New Zealand.

Peter Lakai and outstanding scrum-half Cam Roigard (2) were also on target for the southern hemisphere giants, while Six Nations champions France fell short of a rare win on New Zealand soil despite tries from Damian Penaud, Antoine Hastoy, Theo Attissogbe and Matthieu Jalibert.

France, without star names Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, also had a second-half try ruled out for a knock-on from Max Spring before Fabien Brau-Boirie touched down.

New Zealand host Italy next weekend while France travel to Australia.

“It was tough. The French were quality tonight, when we had the ball in our hands, we were dangerous,” said All Blacks captain Ardie Savea.

“A Test match is always going to bring its challenges. France came to play and put us under pressure. I am proud of the boys for what they put in.”

When France toured New Zealand last year, Les Bleus brought a weakened squad and lost all three Tests by a combined 40 points.

And while Dupont and Bielle-Biarrey did not travel to Christchurch, France head coach Fabien Galthie fielded a strong team that included star fly-half Jalibert and record try scorer Penaud.

It made for a captivating, see-sawing tournament opener that went down to the wire.

France got off to a flyer when Penaud – axed from the Six Nations squad – struck inside the opening two minutes with a national record-extending try 41st try, with the All Blacks’ early malaise compounded when Ruben Love – in his first Test start at 10 – was sin-binned for a high tackle in the build-up.

But not to be outdone by his opposite number, Jordan hit back for the hosts with a fine finish, dotting down in the corner despite Theo Attissogbe’s last-ditch attempt to shove him into touch.

Maxime Lucu’s penalty gave France a 10-5 lead, but the home side hit back to lead when flanker Lakai raced over after combining with Caleb Clarke.

Stand-in skipper Lucu’s second penalty edged France back into a one-point lead but New Zealand struck on the cusp of half-time when Roigard darted over after hooker Codie Taylor went close to give the three-time world champions a six-point cushion at the end of a relentless opening half.

The French response was admirable and they edged back in front when replacement Hastoy ran through after being teed up by Attissogbe.

The lead barely lasted two minutes, however, as Roigard sniped in for his second score after being put in by Jordie Barrett.

Then came a period of torment for Brau-Boirie. After the young Pau centre failed to gather a superb Jalibert kick inside the in-goal area, the 20-year-old charged over the line two minutes later before a television match official (TMO) intervention.

Attissogbe eventually delivered France’s try just before the hour mark when he avoided touch to dot down in the corner, but Lucu’s failed conversion attempt left Les Bleus a point down at 26-25.

It set up an absorbing final quarter, and after Love’s penalty pushed the All Blacks’ lead out to four, Jordan conjured another clutch finish after a neat Luke Jacobsen offload.

Not prepared to give up their quest for just a fifth win on New Zealand soil, France hit back when Jalibert’s 78th-minute try set up a grandstand finish.

However, the All Blacks saw out the pressure-packed final moments and retained possession to hang on for a hard-fought win.

New Zealand: McKenzie; Jordan, Tupaea, J Barrett, Clarke; Love, Roigard; De Groot, Taylor, Newell, Lord, Darry, Lakai, Jacobson, Savea (capt).

Replacements: Aumua, Numia, Lomax, Hannah, Sititi, Ratima, Proctor.

Sin-bin: Love (3)

France: M Spring; Penaud, Brau Boirie, Moefana, Attissogbe; Jalibert, Lucu (capt); Poirot, Lamothe, Bamba, Auradou, Staniforth, Bochaton, Jegou, Gazzotti.

Replacements: Massa, Wardi, Montagne, Guillard, Tixeront, Le Garrec, Hastoy, Depoortere.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)