New Zealand v France - Nations Championship result as Cam Roigard stars as All-Blacks bag tense victory in thriller

Cam Roigard and Will Jordan scored two tries each as New Zealand edged past France 34-32 in a mesmerising Nations Championship curtain-raiser on Saturday.

The All Blacks had not lost at home to France since 2009 but got off to a disastrous start when record try-scorer Damian Penaud went over within 90 seconds to give the visitors the lead.

It went from bad to worse when Ruben Love, starting at fly-half for the first time, was sent to the sin bin for a challenge in the build-up to the opening score.

However, New Zealand defended with attack and reduced the deficit through Jordan, who fought off Theo Attissogbe to touch down.

Maxime Lucu's kicking kept France in a strong position, knocking over two penalties either side of Peter Lakai's try as the visitors kept hold of their slender lead.

The All Blacks' pressure finally paid dividends as Roigard got his first try of the night on the brink of half-time, making the most of the space after Codie Taylor was swarmed by three white shirts.

Antoine Hastoy's try helped the visitors retake the lead after a brilliant Attissogbe handover, only for Roigard to bite back two minutes later, again maximising space between a chaotic French defence.

Fabien Brau-Boire was denied two tries in as many minutes, first failing to gather a ball from Mathieu Jalibert and then seeing a second effort overturned because of a knock-on in the build-up.

Attissogbe converted French dominance five minutes later, but the missed conversion from Lucu meant the All Blacks still led by a one-point, which they extended with a simple penalty.

Jordan looked to have put the game beyond reach with his try with ten minutes remaining, but Jalibert went over with two minutes left to set up a grandstand finish.

However, New Zealand racked up the phases to see out the final seconds to secure a crucial bonus-point win.

France take two points with them as they travel to Brisbane to face Australia, while New Zealand welcome Italy to Wellington next weekend.

The organisers of the Nations Championship could not have asked for a better opening match, but what do you expect when two elite teams come together like this?

It was a French team missing a lot of star players but they still had enough to trouble New Zealand.

However, the All Blacks had the quality when it mattered, and Cam Roigard was instrumental in making sure that his side was on the right end of a narrow scoreline.

The late try from France was not just a consolation though, as they bag the tries bonus point as well as a losing bonus point thanks to that.

We have 100 seconds to see if France can score. A penalty will do.

New Zealand have the ball just inside the French half. Can they just keep hold of the ball?

Thirty seconds left as the phases build up. This will do for New Zealand.

Just a couple more phases. Every French body is working overtime to get the ball back.

The clock is in the red. And New Zealand kick the ball off the park and that will be that!

Here France go as Mathieu Jalibert finds Max Spring. They know they need a quick try here.

Left to right and back to left in the New Zealand 22. The All-Blacks hold firm.

Jalibert rushes through from deep and has the momentum to reach over and touch the ball down!

We have a grandstand finish set up.

France aren't going to take this lying down though, and a fourth try would bag not one, but two bonus points given the current deficit.

Mathieu Jalibert tries an ambitious box-kick that doesn't come off, but it comes back to a knock-on.

Huge French scrum coming up as Cam Roigard comes off to a round of applause, replaced by Cortez Ragima.

Max Spring knocks on when challenging for an aerial ball. New Zealand manage to run the clock down a minute or so at the scrum before France concede a free-kick.

Fehi Fineanganofo comes on for Caleb Clarke, as does Jamie Hannah for Josh Lord as two more Kiwis make their Test debuts.

New Zealand are rampant at the moment, and Luke Brittain Jacobson offloads brilliantly to Will Jordan who runs away from the French defence to get the try!

Is that the game?

France have beaten New Zealand in 1979, 1994 and 2009. They are due another away win.

New Zealand have a scrum, knowing a converted try will give them some distance.

France think they have a turnover with Marko Gazzotti, but illegally so, and New Zealand have a penalty in the French 22.

They go for sticks, and Ruben Love gives New Zealand a four-point lead.

France force a turnover. They are going for it now.

Fabien Brau-Boire shows off his pace again and finds Theo Attissogbe.

He's very wide out there, but just about keeps his toes on the pitch as he touches down and France have their third try.

It is a tough kick for Maxime Lucu, who pulls it left of the posts, so New Zealand keep their lead.

But he makes amends seconds later!

Fabien Brau-Boire jumps on a ball that pops out of Mathieu Jalibert's ruck and has the pace to outrun the New Zealand defence and touch down under the posts.

There is a check for a knock-on but it is cleared! But they're investigating another knock-on from Max Spring and this one will be flagged!

The try is ruled out!

We are back to the end-to-end rhythm we saw at the start of the first half.

Antoine Hastoy gains yards out wide, but France soon find themselves being shoved towards the edge of the New Zealand 22.

Ardie Savea thinks he has made a turnover, but Sam Darry's blocking run is penalised.

Mathieu Jalibert goes quickly with the diagonal kick to Fabien Brau-Boire who can't gather on the try line and a huge opportunity passes!

New Zealand replace their props, as Xavier Numia comes on for his All-Blacks debut

Oh that is absolutely sensational!

Cam Roigard hands over to Jordie Barrett who comes under pressure.

However, he calmly hands back to Roigard who has acres of space to break into and it is as you were minutes after France had take the lead!

France get through!

It's quick passing on the right-hand side and Theo Attissogbe finds a brilliant handover to find Antoine Hastoy running inside, who scampers clear over the line.

Maxime Lucu bags the extras to put France ahead again.

An early French penalty immediately hands a decent chunk of territory over. Ruben Love works hard to win the ball back for the All-Blacks though.

Antoine Hastoi replaced Damian Penaud at the break by the way, as Max Spring had come back onto the pitch after his HIA in the first half.

Will Jordan produces a brilliant take in the air under huge pressure to repel France.

However, a loose kick could be punished and Mathieu Jalibert is in the 22.

More of the same please! Can France find a way back in this match in the second half? They are only six points behind.

New Zealand resume proceedings.

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That was the last action of the half too.

After a nightmare start, New Zealand take a lead into the first Nations Championship match in history.

This is a huge moment. Codie Taylor peels away but Maxime Lucu comes across to tackle him.

However, as three players flock towards Taylor, Cam Roigard is in acres of space and goes over!

New Zealand take a lead into half time.

New Zealand have a penalty advantage in the France 22. They can smell a try though. Another penalty advantage as they get within inches.

Ethan de Groot drops the ball with the try line waiting! It will come back to one of those many penalties though.

De Groot took a nasty whack in going for that try and blood is pouring out from underneath his eye.

New Zealand go for touch. They've had 87% possession in the last 10 minutes.

You don't need to be a rugby fan to enjoy this match so far. It has been breathtaking stuff.

Ruben Love has settled into the game well after the early yellow.

The match has settled down a little as both sides fight for territory. Both will be satisfied with this scoreline at half-time.