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All Blacks beat France in thrilling Nations Championship opener

Image source, InphoImage caption, Jordan is just two off Doug Howlett's All Blacks try record

Nations Championship

New Zealand (19) 34

Tries: Jordan 2, Lakai, Roigard 2 Cons: Love 2 Pen: Love

France (13) 32

Tries: Penaud, Hastoy, Attisogbe, Jalibert Cons: Lucu 2, Hastoy Pens: Lucu 2

Will Jordan scored twice to help New Zealand beat France as the inaugural Nations Championship opened with a captivating, nine-try thriller in Christchurch.

Prolific wing Jordan struck in the seventh and 71st minute to hand new All Blacks boss Dave Rennie a winning start and move within two of Doug Howlett's record 49 tries for New Zealand.

Peter Lakai and outstanding scrum-half Cam Roigard (2) were also on target for the southern hemisphere giants, while Six Nations champions France fell short of a rare win on New Zealand soil despite tries from Damian Penaud, Antoine Hastoy, Theo Attissogbe and Matthieu Jalibert.

France, without star names Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, also had a second-half try ruled out for a knock-on from Max Spring before Fabien Brau-Boirie touched down.

More to follow.

Read original at BBC News

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