Try avalanche buries French after card row
NEW Zealand buried the French under an avalanche of second half tries at Eden Park to take the lead in the three-Test series.
However, two crucial and controversial decisions that went in favour of the hosts from Welsh referee Luke Pearce also helped the world champions eventually run riot in Auckland.
Pearce brandished a 51st minute yellow card to French lock Paul Gabrillagues for a high tackle on Ryan Crotty.
Replays showed the forward was a little unlucky, with his arm getting around the ball under the Kiwi’s neck. The moment deflated the visitors and inspired their world champion opponents who scored 44 unanswered points in a try spree.
Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick said: “The yellow card was definitely the turning point and a very dodgy decision.
“He’s a young referee and maybe over-reacted a bit quickly and should have gone upstairs.”
France had matched their rivals for over 50 minutes and had taken an 11-8 lead into the break.
But all the hard work was undone in the final 30 minutes with the French spirit sucked out of them.
Pearce also upset the French when he failed to punish Sam Kane when the All Blacks forward made a shoulder hit on their try scorer Remy Grosso. Replays showed Kane should have been sent to the bin.
At the end France were overwhelmed with All Blacks queuing up to run over their line. But the visitors battled impressively in the first half.
The All Blacks made history by including a trio of brothers in an international for the first time – fly-half Beauden Barrett, full-back Jordie and lock Scott. The Whitelock siblings, captain and lock Sam and No.8 Luke, were also on show.
But the home crowd were stunned when Teddy Thomas stretched his impressive legs and broke through the home defence with a scything run. Ben Smith mistakenly scooped the loose ball to the alert Gross who strolled over.
Parra missed the conversion and the scrum-half almost cost his side when his attempted clearance was charged down by Jordie. Aaron Smith kick through behind the France line and fortunately, for Parra, team-mate Thomas was the first to react and ground the ball.
Beauden Barrett and Parra exchanged penalties before the Barrett brothers linked up for New Zealand’s opening try. Scott fed Jordie who raced upfield. The ball eventually found Beauden who slid over in the corner.
Parra’s hot and cold opening half display finishing with a stunning long range penalty from inside his own half.
Barrett’s second penalty levelled matters shortly after the break and the second half turned into a French nightmare and the game lost as Gabrillagues was sent to the sin bin.
Beauden Barrett kicked through for hooker Codie Taylor to dive over, followed by Ben Smith finishing off a flowing move. The French wilted with Rieko Ioane grabbing two tries and replacements Damian Mckenzie, Ngani Laumape and Ardie Savea also crossing.