All Blacks Edge France 34-32 to Open Nations Championship Era

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

New Zealand opened the inaugural Nations Championship with a 34-32 win over France in Christchurch, according to The Guardian. The All Blacks held on in a close rugby international after Cam Roigard and Will Jordan scored two tries each.

The result also marked New Zealand's first Test under new head coach Dave Rennie. That detail gives the match more weight than a standalone July international: it was both a tournament opener and the first public marker of a new coaching era.

Why it matters:

A two-point win is useful but not tidy. New Zealand got the result, started the Nations Championship with momentum, and gave Rennie a winning debut. But France running them so close complicates the read. The source describes the French side as under-strength and notes that it did not include players from top clubs Toulouse and Montpellier.

That context matters because the scoreline cuts two ways. For the All Blacks, winning a tight match can be framed as composure under pressure. For France, losing narrowly away in Christchurch with a depleted selection still sends a strong competitive signal. It suggests depth, resilience, and the ability to stress a major opponent even without a full-strength squad.

Tournament impact:

For New Zealand, the immediate tournament consequence is clean: they start the Nations Championship with a win. In a new competition, early results help establish tone, and a victory over France carries more value than a routine opening fixture. The All Blacks can bank the result while still having plenty to review.

For France, the table impact is a loss, but the performance profile may be more encouraging than the outcome. An under-strength side getting within two points of New Zealand away from home gives coaches evidence that the squad can compete beyond its first-choice core. In a tournament setting, that depth can become decisive when travel, rotation and availability start shaping selection.

What to watch:

The next question for New Zealand is whether the attacking production from Roigard and Jordan becomes a foundation or whether this match is remembered more for the defensive stress of conceding 32 points. For Rennie, the result buys breathing room, but the narrow margin ensures the debut will be studied rather than simply celebrated.

France's follow-up is just as important. If players from Toulouse and Montpellier return later, the standard set by this under-strength group may raise internal competition. Narrow defeats can disappear quickly in standings, but they can still reshape selection debates.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: New Zealand beat France 34-32 in Christchurch, Roigard and Jordan scored two tries each, it was Rennie's first Test as All Blacks coach, and France were missing players from Toulouse and Montpellier. What still needs follow-up: full scoring sequence, disciplinary details, standings format, and upcoming Nations Championship fixtures.