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Paris had crackled and burned all day, the air thick with smoke and unrest as a fire raged in the French capital and protest engulfed Place de la Republique.
At the end of it all, a breathtaking battle and the greatest victory of Fabien Galthie’s revolution – the old order toppled, rugby royalty humbled. For now, anyway.
France had not beaten the All Blacks in 14 meetings and 12 years. What a time to break that duck. What a marker to lay down.
Tries from Peato Mauvaka and Romain Ntamack put France 24-6 ahead at half-time
The Webb Ellis Cup was unveiled at the Stade de France and if this serves as a dress rehearsal for the opening night of the 2023 World Cup, the curtain will give way to one of the clashes of our time. Make no mistake: this France side are the real deal.
For a period in the second half they teetered as New Zealand threatened a remarkable fightback. But the likes of Romain Ntamack are not burdened by the scars of France teams past. How else to explain the youthful folly that convinced the fly half to start a counter from behind his own line? With All Blacks swarming, 80,000 drew breath as Ntamack evaded three tackles and within seconds France were at the other end, stretching their lead, back in command, not to be denied.
Even the All Blacks
