What happened in rugby today as All Blacks beat France and Nations Championship 2026 opened

Rugby today opened with a two-point thriller in Christchurch, where New Zealand beat France 34-32 in the first major statement of the Nations Championship 2026. The All Blacks held on at One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha after Will Jordan scored twice, Cam Roigard added two tries of his own and Ruben Love’s boot helped decide a match France nearly stole at the death, The WP Times reports.

France made the sharper start through Damian Penaud, but New Zealand answered with pace, pressure and enough late control to survive a frantic finish. The result gives the All Blacks a winning start under Dave Rennie, while France leave New Zealand with proof of serious depth despite travelling without Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

Rugby Today: What Happened In New Zealand vs France

New Zealand beat France 34-32 in a nine-try Nations Championship opener that immediately gave the new tournament a proper Test-match identity. France struck inside two minutes through Damian Penaud, but the All Blacks recovered through Will Jordan, Peter Lakai and Cam Roigard before the interval pressure turned the game into a contest of nerve. The second half was even more unstable. Antoine Hastoy put France back in front, Roigard responded, Theo Attissogbe narrowed the gap, Ruben Love kicked a crucial penalty and Jordan’s second try pushed New Zealand clear before Matthieu Jalibert’s late score made the final minutes tense.

All Blacks v France: Why This Result Matters

This was not only all blacks vs france; it was also the first serious test of the rugby nations championship as a product. The fixture had tempo, risk, mistakes, TMO controversy and enough late drama to make the format feel meaningful from day one. For New Zealand, the win matters because it gives Dave Rennie’s All Blacks a clean start in a competition that will quickly become physically demanding. For France rugby, the defeat hurts, but the performance still sends a warning: even without several headline names, France pushed New Zealand to the final whistle away from home.

New Zealand France Rugby: The Main Talking Points

France began with ambition and speed. Penaud’s early try showed how dangerous Les Bleus could be when they moved the ball before New Zealand had settled.

New Zealand’s response came through structure and finishing quality. Jordan’s first try pulled the All Blacks back into the game, Lakai’s score shifted momentum, and Roigard’s sharp work around the ruck gave the hosts control. Ruben Love also became central to the story. He was sin-binned early for a high tackle in the build-up to France’s opening try, but later kicked important points and helped New Zealand manage the scoreboard.

Nations Championship 2026: What Is Next In Live Rugby Today

After new zealand vs france today, the Nations Championship schedule continues with a full Saturday of Test rugby. Australia host Ireland in Sydney, Fiji face Wales, South Africa meet England at Ellis Park, and Argentina play Scotland later in Córdoba.

England Rugby Today: Why South Africa Is The Benchmark

England rugby today is framed by the evening match against South Africa, the reigning world champions. The Guardian described the Ellis Park fixture as a severe test for England’s physical edge, while Reuters reported that Siya Kolisi expected a fired-up English side despite South Africa’s strong home position.

England’s preparation was hit by late news that George Furbank was ruled out with appendicitis, according to the BBC live coverage supplied in the match feed. That changes the back-field calculation and likely pushes Marcus Smith closer to a starting role.

France v New Zealand: The Bottom Line

France v New Zealand 2026 gave the Nations Championship exactly what it needed: a serious rugby match, not a soft launch. New Zealand won, but France left Christchurch with credibility, depth and a clear message that they can trouble elite sides even without their strongest available squad. For rugby today, the headline is simple: All Blacks 34, France 32. For the wider nations championship 2026, the bigger point is that this new competition has opened with a match that felt like it mattered.

Where to Watch Rugby Today in the UK

UK viewers can watch the Nations Championship 2026 live free-to-air on ITV and stream every match through ITVX. Most fixtures are split across ITV1 and ITV4 depending on the day's sports schedule, while live streaming is available on ITVX with catch-up after the final whistle.

Saturday 4 July fixtures (BST)

*New Zealand vs France kicked off earlier in the morning UK time because it was played in Christchurch. Highlights and full-match replay are available via ITVX after the live broadcast.

If you're outside the UK:

• Ireland: Virgin Media Television and Virgin Media Play.
• France: TF1.
• New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ.
• Australia: Stan Sport, with selected Wallabies home Tests also on the Nine Network.
• South Africa: SuperSport.

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