New Zealand began a fresh era with a narrow victory over France in Christchurch on Saturday. Dave Rennie welcomed the result despite acknowledging significant areas needing improvement.
The All Blacks (5.34) recovered from behind several times before securing a dramatic 34-32 Nations Championship victory. However, Rennie insisted the performance remains far from the standard his squad ultimately wants to achieve.
Rennie Pleased With Winning Start
Dave Rennie admitted he felt relief after watching New Zealand edge France 34-32 in their opening Nations Championship match. His side had to battle throughout an entertaining contest in Christchurch. They came from behind on three occasions before eventually holding on for victory. Although the result pleased the new coach, he made it clear there is still plenty of work ahead. Nevertheless, starting his tenure with a win provides valuable confidence as the squad begins another international cycle.
New Zealand faced a French team missing several established stars. Players from powerhouse clubs Toulouse and Montpellier were unavailable for selection. Even so, France remained highly competitive throughout the contest. Their pace and attacking intent regularly tested the All Blacks. Consequently, Rennie believes his players gained an important lesson despite claiming the victory.
Fresh Leadership Brings New Direction
New Zealand Rugby dismissed Scott Robertson in January after two disappointing years in charge. The governing body appointed the experienced 62-year-old Rennie as his replacement. He previously coached Kobe in Japan before accepting the international role. Since arriving, Rennie has outlined an ambitious vision for the team. His approach focuses on quick ball movement, positive attacking play and limiting unnecessary kicking whenever opportunities to run emerge.
That philosophy was evident during the opening match. The All Blacks consistently looked to move possession quickly through multiple phases. Their willingness to attack from different areas created numerous scoring opportunities. At the same time, the aggressive style also exposed weaknesses that still require refinement. Therefore, Rennie remains encouraged while recognising that greater balance will be needed against stronger opponents in the coming weeks.
“I love the effort. I love the optimism,” Rennie told reporters. “We were able to play with a really high tempo, a lot of quick ball, almost 85%, which is just outrageous.
“We did a lot of really good things with the ball.”
Accuracy Remains a Priority
Despite celebrating victory, Rennie highlighted several concerns following the match. Defensive organisation did not consistently meet his expectations. France repeatedly generated quick ball at the breakdown and capitalised with four tries. Meanwhile, New Zealand crossed the line five times, which ultimately proved enough to secure victory.
Although the attack impressed for long periods, Rennie believes discipline and precision must improve immediately. Better execution will become increasingly important against stronger opposition. He also stressed the importance of developing combinations across the squad. Since the players have spent only a short period together, greater familiarity should naturally improve performances, while consistent training sessions and valuable match experience will allow partnerships to strengthen over time, helping both attack and defence become far more effective throughout the remainder of the Nations Championship.
“I can’t fault the effort; I love the mindset, but we’ve got to be a lot more accurate,” Rennie said. “We just need more time, more reps, more work around the combinations.
“There’s a lot of guts. We scrambled really well at times, but we’ve got to get off the line and apply a lot more pressure, give them slow balls so we can reset and get off the line and do it again.”
Ruben Love Impresses at Flyhalf
One of Rennie’s biggest selection decisions involved handing Ruben Love the flyhalf role. The gamble paid off despite the young playmaker receiving an early yellow card for a high tackle. Rather than allowing the setback to affect him, Love responded impressively once he returned to the field. His composure stood out throughout the contest.
Love’s direct running repeatedly challenged the French defensive line. His sharp passing also created space for teammates outside him. Furthermore, he displayed confidence rarely seen from inexperienced international players. Rennie praised both his personality and leadership after the match. Those qualities could become increasingly valuable as New Zealand continues rebuilding under its new coaching staff.
“He’s impressive,” Rennie said. “He’s very confident. He’s taken control. Doesn’t mind bossing around some of the old fellas, so I’m really pleased for him.”
Lakai Calls for Continued Improvement
Flanker Peter Lakai also acknowledged there is considerable room for improvement. He scored one of New Zealand’s five tries during the exciting contest. However, he admitted the team conceded several preventable goals. Those defensive lapses prevented a more convincing victory.
Importantly, Lakai believes the squad will continue progressing as players spend more time together. The current group has only been assembled for one week. Consequently, combinations remain a work in progress across several positions. Building a stronger understanding between teammates should reduce mistakes while improving overall consistency, and those improvements could prove decisive when New Zealand faces Italy and Ireland during the next two Nations Championship fixtures, where even minor errors may carry much greater consequences against quality international opposition.
“We scored some brilliant tries, but we also let in a few soft ones,” Lakai said. “It’s just about polishing. We’ve been together for one week, so it’s just building combinations, and we’ll take our learnings.”
Bigger Challenges Await
New Zealand’s upcoming schedule offers little opportunity to relax. Matches against Italy and Ireland will provide fresh examinations of Rennie’s evolving game plan. Both opponents possess different strengths that will demand tactical flexibility. As a result, the coaching staff will closely analyse the performance against France before making any necessary adjustments.
Supporters will also be eager to see whether the All Blacks can maintain their attacking style while tightening their defence. Entertaining performances often attract worldwide interest, including among fans following online sports betting enthusiasts throughout major international tournaments. However, sustained success will ultimately depend on consistency rather than excitement alone. Rennie understands reality better than most experienced international coaches.
The new coach finished by insisting that far better performances are still to come. Winning the opening match represented an important first step rather than the finished product. Confidence should continue growing with every training session and international fixture. If the squad successfully combines its attacking ambition with greater defensive discipline, New Zealand could become one of the Nations Championship’s strongest contenders later in the competition.
“We’re going to be better,” he said. “We certainly weren’t high-fiving and jumping for joy.
“We’re happy to win, and we’ve got a game under our belt, and we’ll build on that”.
