New Zealand……..17 France……………….18
France turned the tables on New Zealand by ending the Black Ferns' 16-game win streak with a clinical performance against the hosts.
Despite a young side heading to New Zealand for WXV 1, with an average age of just 23 in the starting XV, they were able to get the better of the Black Ferns in Wellington.
Emilie Boulard finished off a length-of-the-field counter-attack after Marine Ménager's interception to open the scoring.
New Zealand struck back through Liana Mikaele-Tu'u but were then undone by a brilliant try off the back of a scrum on halfway, Cyrielle Banet finishing after slick hands to put her into space.
Morgane Bourgeois added another penalty before half-time to make it 15-7 to Les Bleues.
She slotted three more points shortly after the break, with New Zealand electing to do the same through Renee Holmes.
Chryss Viliko saw red for a reckless clearout on Gabrielle Vernier but New Zealand came again with a fine Katelyn Vahaakolo try ah-M
from Ruby Tui's grubber. Ruahei Demant converted from out wide but France held on.
TEAMS
FRANCE: Bourgeois, Banet (Gros 64), Ménager (Konde 54), Vernier, Boulard, Queyroi, Chambon (Bourdon Sansus 61), Mwayembe (Lindelauf 43), Riffoneau (Touye 66), Joyeux (Khalfaoui 64), Feleu (Forlani 68), Fall, Berthoumieu, Hermet, Escudero (Champon 64)
NEW ZEALAND: Holmes (Mataele 66), Tui, Du Plessis, Brunt (Maliepo 61), Vahaakolo, Demant, Marino Tauhino (Bayler 57), Murray (Viliko 47), Ponsonby (Connor 61), Rule (Kalounivale 65), Roos, Smith (C Bremner 47), A Bremner (Jenkins 61), Simon, Mikaele-Tu'u
