10:35 AM
France beat the All Blacks 42-33 in a pulsating match at Marseilles this morning.
The home side lead 26-24 at half-time.
The Tricoleurs made a cracking start, with tries to fullback Xavier Garbajosa and flanker Olivier Magne followed by a penalty to go up 17-0 after 11 minutes.
New Zealand pinned back seven points soon after with a try to Justin Marshall, who clocked up 100 test points in the process.
France added nine more to their total with three penalties from first-five Christophe Lamaison.
The All Blacks replied with a penalty of their own and a superb try from wing Doug Howlett, and another from replacement prop Gordon Slater minutes before the half-time whistle.
The All Blacks looked good early in the second half, going ahead 30-26 with two Mehrtens penalties.
But a try to French halfback Fabien Galthie and a drop kick to Lamaison put France back in the lead after twenty minutes.
Lamaison, kicking with lethal accuracy, then grabbed a penalty to put France ahead 39-30.
New Zealand remained within striking distance with another Mehrtens penalty ten minutes from full-time.
But a second drop kick from the boot of Lamaison minutes from the final whistle sounded the death knell for the All Blacks.
- HERALD ONLINE STAFF
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All Blacks' French nightmare returns
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