For New Zealand, the defeat marked a continuation of a challenging year for Scott Robertson’s side. Meanwhile, in France, the result was celebrated as yet another milestone in Les Bleus' ascension as a global rugby powerhouse - and their third win in a row against the All Blacks.
New Zealand media: Ruing missed opportunities
New Zealand commentators zeroed in on the All Blacks’ shortcomings, particularly in terms of execution under pressure. The New Zealand Herald described it as a missed opportunity for their nation's XV: "Having laid the platform for another memorable victory, discipline, handling issues, and the gradual deterioration of ruck presentation from the All Blacks handed France the chance to recover."
Stuff delved into where it all "unravelled" for New Zealand, noting that while the All Blacks matched France in the early exchanges, lapses in discipline and decision-making proved costly. They also pointed out that New Zealand failed to adapt to the relentless physicality of the French forwards, particularly in the closing stages. Journalist Richard Knowler called it a "shocking decision" to penalise replacement All Blacks prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi for a neck roll in the 72nd minute.
Liam Napier of the Herald was full of praise for New Zealand's scrum-half, though: "One day after his 24th birthday, Cam Roigard pulled off a moment of individual brilliance. Like a thief in the Paris night Roigard, making his first start for the All Blacks since last year’s World Cup, pinched the ball from French No 8 Grégory Alldritt to score. Marking Antoine Dupont, widely dubbed the world’s premier player, this was a statement performance from the highly competitive Roigard."
The Post also drew attention to back rower Peter Lakai’s standout performance, praising his physicality and potential as a future leader in the loose forward trio, and noting he "provided a glimmer of hope for New Zealand rugby amid a disappointing defeat." It views Lakai's rise as a positive in a challenging transition period for the All Blacks.
French media: A triumph of character and resilience
In France, the tone was celebratory, with publications lauding Les Bleus for their resolve. Rugbyrama described the victory as “another act in France’s renaissance against the All Blacks,” alluding to the psychological edge the French have built over their Southern Hemisphere rivals after a third consecutive win.
L’Équipe praised the leadership of Antoine Dupont, whose tactical kicking and game management set the tone for the hosts. The publication also spotlighted standout performances from Louis Bielle-Biarrey, whose explosive runs were described as “stratospheric.”
Meanwhile, Le Figaro emphasised the team’s adaptability, noting how Fabien Galthié’s side overcame a series of defensive lapses to seize momentum late in the game. They described the victory as “a testament to Les Bleus’ ability to perform in high-pressure moments, a skill honed over years of consistent growth and preparation”.
Former France great Olivier Magne opined: "[France have] in Thomas Ramos a player of very great intelligence. He is the one who sets the collective strategy. He probably understood very quickly that it was necessary to let the storm pass in the first half, not to try to overplay, not to enter into a duel. He set the tempo, he played well. Frankly, what a player."
Lessons and looking forward
For New Zealand, the loss represents both a blow to confidence and an opportunity to recalibrate before their next major test. French media celebrated the victory as further evidence of their team’s growing reputation as one of the world’s most dominant sides, with an eye on sustained success leading to the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations and, beyond that, the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The contrasting narratives in both nations highlight the stakes of international rugby at the highest level. For the All Blacks, the challenge now is to rediscover the boldness and precision that once made them nearly untouchable. For Les Bleus, the goal will be to continue proving that the balance of power in world rugby has truly shifted.
What's next for both teams? France welcome Argentina to Paris on Friday night, while New Zealand face Italy in Turin the following night - both live on TNT Sports.
