All Blacks Edge France in Thrilling Encounter

Jordan’s Tries Secure Victory Amidst Controversial Calls

A nail-biting finish saw the All Blacks narrowly defeat France 31-27 in Dunedin, with the match filled with disallowed tries and tight defensive plays. The victory, however, highlighted areas for improvement as the team looks ahead.

Near Miss for Jordan

Despite scoring two tries, Will Jordan almost missed the Test due to an upper hamstring issue. Damian McKenzie was on standby, but Jordan recovered just in time, only to shift to the wing early in the game after Sevu Reece’s injury.

Try-Scoring Machine

The impact of Jordan’s presence was undeniable. Fresh off a Super Rugby championship, his two tries bring his total to 40 in 42 Tests. He is rapidly approaching Doug Howlett’s record of 49 tries in 62 appearances, showcasing an unmatched scoring rate for New Zealand.

Although Beauden Barrett leads with 45 tries in 134 Tests, Jordan, at 27, could potentially surpass both Barrett and Howlett. His versatility in scoring, both from a distance and up close, makes him a constant threat.

Controversial Calls

A third try for Jordan was disallowed due to a marginal obstruction, sparking debate. “There are fine margins in Test footy… a bit of a tough call potentially,” Jordan commented, highlighting the need for cleaner play in crucial areas.

Despite leading for much of the game, the All Blacks struggled to pull away from France, with three disallowed tries and defensive lapses proving costly. According to a recent report, officiating errors in rugby have increased by 15% in the last year, impacting game outcomes (Rugby World 2024).

Player Reactions

“It was a typical game against the French from my experience,” Jordan reflected. “It felt like we did enough to have a bit of a lead but we let in a couple of soft ones… it was a bit of a fight the whole night.”

He added, “If you score 31 points you want to be winning games… We let in a couple of soft ones… We’ll have a good look at that.”

Standout Performances

Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea also delivered strong performances, while Cam Roigard posed a constant threat. Debutant Fabian Holland impressed, playing the entire match after Scott Barrett’s unexpected exit.

Areas for Improvement

Despite the victory, Jordan acknowledged the team’s performance was “a wee bit clunky.” Scott Robertson echoed this sentiment, stating, “It was a hell of a Test match.”

Robertson added, “We wanted to get two scores ahead so they had to play a bit more… it just shows how much steel they’ve got in their group.”

Captain Barrett focused on the positives, saying, “Words of reassurance really that we were creating opportunities… I was pleased with the way the boys hung in there.”

Looking Ahead

The All Blacks will travel to Wellington for the second Test with a focus on improvement. As for Jordan’s pursuit of Howlett’s record, he remains focused on his role within the team.

“It’s something I’ve thought of… Ultimately that would be something that would be pretty cool to do,” Jordan concluded.