The stutters of the All Blacks in 2017 have continued but they eventually saw off France 38-18 in a classic Test of two halves in Paris.
Leading 31-5 after an alarmingly one-sided first spell, the world champions threatened to melt in the face of an inspired home side after the break.
New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams tackled by Yoann Huget and Mathieu Bastareaud of France Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Four New Zealand tries in the compelling first half was followed by a messy second 40 minutes, highlighted by a bizarre play from Sonny Bill Williams which resulted in a yellow card and penalty try.
With little pressure on him, Williams deliberately batted a cross kick over the dead ball line.
Such a play is allowed in Williams' former code, rugby league, but breaks rugby's laws and warranted a yellow card.
However, the tourists protested vociferously when referee Angus Gardner awarded the penalty try, a decision which handed momentum to the hosts who morphed into a different team.
It took some staunch All Blacks defence and slippery conditions to keep their tryline clean for the remainder as Les Bleus utterly controlled proceedings.
A New Zealand team who enjoyed 73 per cent of territory before halftime, managed just 12 per cent afterwards.
The five-tries-to-two win mirrored several others this year for the All Blacks, who have struggled to find their most fluent form while blooding a number of new faces.
They were expected to handsomely beat an injury-ravaged French side fielding six uncapped players and two young halves making their first Test starts.
France vs New Zealand All Blacks New Zealand's Sam Whitelock scuffles with French players Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The All Blacks found their feet early, dominating all facets in a manner that suggested their loss to the Wallabies last month was behind them.
Five-eighth Beauden Barrett, who missed the Brisbane loss with injury, was particularly influential in general play and landed all his six shots at goal.
Barrett set up the first two tries with neat passes.
The first a short ball to hooker Dane Coles and the second a loopy cut-out to winger Waisake Naholo.
Coles was forced from the game soon afterwards, favouring his left knee.
France responded with a slick team try to winger Teddy Thomas, reducing the scoreline to 17-5.
However, referee Angus Gardner ran out of patience with the scrummaging methods of French prop Rabah Slimani, showing him a 33rd-minute yellow card.
The All Blacks pounced on their advantage, scoring quickly through centre Ryan Crotty and flanker Sam Cane. Crotty's try came via a deft grubber from midfield partner Williams.
Five-eighth Anthony Belleau, who enjoyed a promising debut, landed penalty goals either side of the penalty try as France threatened their first win over the All Blacks in 11 Tests.
The All Blacks scored against the run of play on fulltime when Naholo bagged his second try.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen . End of Year Northern Tour - France v All Blacks 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was not entirely satisfied.
"We lost the discipline a little and we allowed the momentum to shift," said Hansen, who admitted his team might have eased off.
"It is difficult for any team to hold the momentum for the whole duration of the contest," he said. "The French got confidence and they put us under pressure."
France coach Guy Noves criticised his players for their lack of commitment in the first half.
"In the first half we did not play at the level required for an international team. New Zealand have qualities, obviously, but we have not been worthy opponents in the first half," Noves told a news conference after France's 11th consecutive defeat against the world champions.
A decent second half, where France outscored New Zealand 13-7, was not enough to appease Noves.
"Maybe they realised that with more agressiveness and more respect for the France shirt, they could compete with this team," he said.
"When you start off like this, being so bad, it was really a minimum to play like this in the second half, but we cannot be satisfied with our performance," the coach added as he assessed his side's form ahead of their second test, against South Africa at the Stade de France next Saturday.
"It would have been a drama if we didn't have that second half.
"We have to see why we started the game like this, with so little aggressiveness."
-AAP/Reuters
