page_title: France–New Zealand relations
section_title: Sport
hierarchical_section_title: France–New Zealand relations / Sport
caption_attribution_description: Ka Mate haka of the All Blacks led by Richie McCaw before a match against France in 2006.
context_page_description: France–New Zealand relations refers to international relations between New Zealand and France. Relations between France and New Zealand have been rocky at times, but more recently become much closer. Bilateral relations have been generally good since World War I and World War II, with both countries working closely during the conflicts, but the relationship was severely jeopardised by the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland on 10 July 1985 by French Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure agents.
  Relations between the two nations had been strained earlier, and in 1973 the New Zealand government suspended for a time postal relations with France. Following the French attack on the Rainbow Warrior, France demanded New Zealand release the agents captured after the attack. To enforce their demand, the French Government put New Zealand under fierce economic strain. Since then there has been animosity among New Zealanders towards the French, though there has been thawing as the events receed into history.
context_section_description: The French and New Zealand national rugby union have been playing each other for over a century. Since their first match, in January 1906 in Paris, and January 2008, they have played 46 Test matches. The historic 1906 match, which France lost 38–8, was the first ever French Test but it was not until 1954 (when they won 3–0) that they were able to secure their first win over the New Zealanders.
  Then the Second World War intervened, suspending competition. In 1946, France played two matches against the New Zealand Expeditionary Force's Kiwis, losing both matches.
  France first toured New Zealand in 1961 – before any of the home nations. – and the All Blacks won all three Tests. Overall the All Blacks have won 34 Tests, France 11, with one drawn.
  France and the All Blacks met in the final of the inaugural Rugby World Cup. The tournament was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia and the final was held at Eden Park. The All Blacks were captained by David Kirk and went on to win their first World Cup 29–9. According to the All Blacks' coach at the time, Brian Lochore, the previous year's loss in Nantes was the catalyst for their World Cup victory. Shelford said of the match "We wanted to play them in the final because we wanted revenge". The match also helped improve the diplomatic and political rift between France and New Zealand caused by the 1985 bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by French Secret Service agents.
  The Dave Gallaher Trophy was introduced in 2000 to be contested between the two teams. It was named in memory of All Blacks captain Dave Gallaher who captained the All Blacks against France in 1906 and who died at the Battle of Passchendaele during World War I. The Cup was first contested on Armistice Day (11 November) 2000. The All Blacks won 39–26 and scored two tries while Andrew Mehrtens scored nine penalties.
  France hosted the 2007 World Cup, and the two teams met in the tournament quarter-finals. Despite France hosting the tournament the match was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The match was won by France 20–18, and involved several controversial decisions by referee Wayne Barnes, who subsequently received death threats from some New Zealand fans. France scored one try after the sin binning of All Blacks second five-eighth Luke McAlister, and another from a forward pass unseen by the referee. The All Blacks were strongly criticised for not attempted a drop goal in the game's final minutes. Their performance was analysed by Palmerston North based company Verusco who had analysed 1,500 games since 2000. They discovered that the All Blacks made 57 tackles to Frances' 269, and they had 66 percent possession and 60 percent territory. The playing time, that is time the ball is in play, was the longest of any game Verusco had ever recorded.
  France and New Zealand met in the final of the 2011 World Cup, held in New Zealand. New Zealand won their second World Title 8–7 in a tightly fought battle.
caption: The All Blacks performing a haka prior to a Test match against France in 2006.
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