France Swept in New Zealand Summer Tour 🇫🇷 vs 🇳🇿

France Swept in New Zealand Summer Tour 🇫🇷 vs 🇳🇿
19 July 2025 | By Rugby Today Reports
The 2025 France rugby union tour of New Zealand, part of the mid-year firebreak tests held between 5–19 July 2025, concluded in distressing fashion for Les Bleus. Facing a robust All Blacks side, France suffered a heartbreaking 3–0 series defeat, losing all three Tests by increasingly worrying margins—marking another clean sweep in a longstanding pattern between the two nations.
According to the tour’s official records, France played three Test matches on New Zealand soil, winning none (0 wins, 3 losses) . The results:
First Test, Dunedin: All Blacks edged France 31–27 — a tense and hotly contested opening, where France led for large periods before late penalties decided the outcome .
Second Test, Wellington: New Zealand roared back with a commanding 43–17 victory, showing physical and tactical superiority. The home side’s pack dominated, scoring six tries to France’s two .
Third Test, Hamilton: In Hamilton (Waikato Stadium), the All Blacks closed out the series with a 29–19 win — overcoming a competitive French start to seal the sweep .
⚙️ France’s Strategy and Squad Selection
The tour was marred early on by France’s decision — under heavy criticism — to withhold many top-tier players from the squad. This stemmed from contractual regulations between the FFR and the Top 14 domestic competition. As a result, key figures like Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, and other frontline internationals did not feature in the tour squad . French coach Fabien Galthié fielded many debutants throughout the series, attempting to expose emerging players to international intensity ahead of the 2027 World Cup .
Despite the departures of marquee names, France still showed promise early. Underdogs in Dunedin, they led 19–10 by half-time and demonstrated cohesion, particularly around scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec’s kicking (who finished as the tour’s top point scorer with 30 points) . But as the series progressed, depth and fatigue caught up.
🔍 New Zealand’s Performance and Adjustments
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson lauded the series as a key developmental opportunity — especially finishing the tour with ten changes in the final Test, deploying players like Jordie Barrett and Anton Lienert-Brown who made decisive second-half contributions in Hamilton .
After a slow start, New Zealand grew sharper in breakdown and continuity — especially in Wellington, where they dismantled the French forwards and claimed total dominance. Ardie Savea, thrust into captaincy, delivered a standout performance .
Coach Robertson highlighted the benefit of playing against France’s “unconventional” style — stating New Zealand “train all week in opposition to try and beat the French… and it’s really unnatural” — a challenge that ultimately made his squad stronger .
🎯 Looking Ahead: Implications for French Rugby
This tour stands as a stark reminder of the chasm between France’s domestic priorities and international success. Critics argue that excluding Top 14 final participants due to scheduling priorities severely undermines France’s competitiveness abroad .
France coach Galthié also voiced frustration with certain refereeing decisions—particularly around scrums and offside judgment during Wellington and Hamilton matches, claiming some calls directly impacted momentum and scorelines .
As France turns their focus to the preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, the tour exposes critical structural weaknesses—namely the disconnect between club demands and national representation. While depth is indeed present—France fielded a youthful squad capable of first-half promise—the lack of experience and cohesion in later stages proved costly .
🧭 Series in Historical Context
This defeat continues a disturbing trend: New Zealand has now swept France in all five of their three-match series since 1961, including 2013, 2018—and now 2025 . The Dave Gallaher Trophy returned to New Zealand decisively after Wellington’s win in week two and was effectively sealed with the Hamilton victory .
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📝 Final Take
France’s 2025 tour of New Zealand was a harsh lesson. While early flashes of competitiveness hinted at potential, the lack of frontline stars and the physicality of the All Blacks proved overwhelming. For New Zealand, the series was validation of depth and adaptability. For France, it’s a prompt to address the tension between domestic scheduling and national team needs—if they hope to reclaim credibility on the world stage.