All Blacks Narrowly Beat France as Coach Rennie Expresses Relief

The New Zealand All Blacks opened their 2026 Nations Championship campaign with a narrow victory over France on Saturday. The match, played at a neutral venue, ended with a modest margin that kept the All Blacks in the lead of the tournament’s opening round.

Freshly appointed head coach Dave Rennie greeted the win by noting that the team was “only going to get better” as the championship progresses. Rennie, who took over from the previous coaching staff, highlighted the squad’s resilience and the potential for further improvement in upcoming fixtures against the other participating nations.

With the first match behind them, the All Blacks will now focus on their remaining opponents in the tournament, aiming to build on the momentum generated by the win over France and solidify their position at the top of the standings.