The hosts looked a lot more in control and banished any lingering doubts after their narrow 31-27 in in the first Test.

The All Black scored six tries in the match to clinch the tree-match series.  While the All Blacks made two injury-enforced changes from the first Test, French coach Fabien Galthie chose an inexperienced French side with 10 changes to their starting line-up. 

Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea, Codie Taylor and Tupou Vaa’i all crossed to give the hosts a 29-3 half-time lead before Will Jordan and Rieko Ioane added two more tries after the break.

Six Nations champions France only managed to score in the second half courtesy of Léo Barré and Joshua Brennan.

After the match, All Blacks captain Ardie Savea said his team really want to put fire in their defensive game.

“Still, credit to the French, they never give up, they’re always there. So I’m proud of our boys for sticking it in and just doing a good job tonight,” he said.

The visitors were understandably disappointed with the outcome of the match, with French winger Émilien Gailleton saying they wanted to prove much more.

“But we’re going to recover and come back for next week. We want to finish our season with a good performance,” he said.

This was the All Black’s 10th straight win over France on home soil.  The third and final Test will be played in Hamilton next Saturday.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger