McKenzie and Ioane have eyes for tries in sweep
Another test, more controversy.
It’s time for even the most evangelistic of All Blacks supporters to unwrap the blinkers from the eyes and admit the French really do have reason to feel they have been ripped-off during this three-test series in New Zealand.
The latest injustice took place at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin last night.
The All Blacks won 49-14, to sweep the series, with left wing Rieko Ioane scoring three of their seven tries, but you had to feel a large degree of sympathy for Les Bleus.
This time the villain for France was John Lacey, an experienced referee who really should have done much better.
The Irishman made a dreadful howler when he prevented replacement French halfback Baptiste Serin from executing a tackle on first five-eighth Damian McKenzie as he raced on to a flat pass by halfback Aaron Smith from a scrum in the 32nd minute. The try, easily converted by McKenzie, put the All Blacks ahead 21-14 and the scoreboard didn’t change before the halftime break.
Having earlier lost captain and No 9 Morgan Parra with concussion, the French rallied bravely and forced men in black to scramble frantically in defence. Then Lacey got things wrong badly wrong.
That Lacey blocked Serin wasn’t the biggest crime. No, what bemused the 27,800 fans at the ground, and no doubt those viewers at home, was the fact he allowed the try to stand after a quick look at the replay.
Prior to this match monstrous tighthead prop Uini Atonio protested that the French have been at a disadvantage during this tour; Atonio reckoned it was an uneven contest – 16 on 15, as he put it.
You can bet he won’t be changing his tune after this fixture, either.
The background to this latest blunder, of course, has been a colourful one; there are red-faces all over the shop. Last weekend France lost fullback Benjamin Fall with a contentious red card in the 12th minute, a sanction later scrapped by World Rugby. And in the first game in Auckland, lock Paul Gabrillagues was yellow carded for a tackle that didn’t even deserve to be considered a penalty.
So what about the game?
It turns it out it was the best of the series. The French really came to play.
Their new midfield of Wesley Fofana and Remi Lamerat were superb, adding pace and intent to the attack, while the French forwards, who must be feeling out on their feet after such a long northern season, harried the New Zealanders at every chance.
Guess who the man who killed-off the French chances was? McKenzie. It was his second try, early in the second half, that added more pain to France as he used his speed to sweep into a gap and race past flatfooted left wing Gael Fickou.
After that it was time to recline in the chair and watch the show as the All Blacks ran amok.
This was a terrific result for an All Blacks selection that was something of an experiment for coach Steve Hansen – even if France lost the plot with their lineout and faded badly in the second half.
Young men Shannon Frizell, Jack Goodhue and Jackson Hemopo, who came on as a replacement, proved the future is bright. Lock Scott Barrett was one of the best on the park.
The All Blacks also had to overcome disruptions because of injuries. Flanker Ardie Savea departed early with a sore leg, and midfielder Sonny Bill Williams retreated with a shoulder problem. But they didn’t miss a beat. Unlike Lacey.
(Rieko Ioane 3, Damian McKenzie 2, Ben Smith, Matt Todd tries; McKenzie 7 con) (Baptiste Serin, Wesley Fofana tries; Anthony Belleau 2 con). HT: 21-14