France try to go through the phases but New Zealand win the penalty at a ruck.

They take it quickly as they try to raise the tempo again.

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There had already been a try and a yellow card at this stage of the first half.

For now, a French scrum on halfway will have to do.

We were going to mention that but we were on the fence about it...

Peter Lakai hammers Mickael Guillard, who didn't claim the kick-off, with a big hit.

That's the easiest decision Luke Pearce will make all day.

"You can't tackle him without the ball", is the helpful advice from the ref.

Off we go.

Six points between them, 40 minutes to decide it.

Let's go!

It won't be too long before we're back under way in Christchurch.

More of the same, please.

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A lot was made in New Zealand about Ruben Love's selection ahead of Beauden Barrett.

Yellow card aside he's settled pretty well. What do you think?

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Just a reminder that Australia against Ireland will follow this one.

It's the calm before the storm in Sydney, but good luck following this.

We'll have live coverage right here of Ireland's Nations Championship opener, and you can also listen on BBC Sounds with former Irish scrum-half Conor Murray part of the coverage.

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It's a bit of a joke when France can leave Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey at home, and there's Maxime Lucu and Damian Penaud to fill in.

Arguably, Lucu has been the more in-form of the two French scrum-halves recently. He was the star man as Bordeaux demolished Leinster in the Champions Cup final.

A good problem to have, sir. There's also plenty of Wimbledon and the sprint race for the British Grand Prix.

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It's been epic. Absolutely epic.

Ouch, that's how.

De Groot emerges from the floor and he's blood pouring from a shiner on his eye from an accident knee to his face.

Damian McKenzie is going to kick the ball into the corner. One last push.

I've no idea how he managed it, but Ethan de Groot goes for the line but the ball squirms out and forwards.

Play will be brought back, but it looked like a certain score.

The All Blacks have the penalty advantage after Demba Bamba was impeding at a ruck.

We've only three minutes to go until half time.

This has rattled by.

New Zealand have the ball but it's on halfway. Will there be one final twist in the opening 40 minutes?

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New Zealand look to come again after a neat break from Ruben Love but it's lost forward by the hosts.

Attissogbe clears downfield and the hosts will have the throw on their own 22.

I'm sure this has been mentioned before but it's very impressive how Luke Pearce just switches between English and French when speaking to players. He's an excellent communicator.

It's a bit embarrassing when, the last time I was in France, I tried ordering a ham and cheese baguette in French and the person behind the counter replied in English.

It's loose in the middle of the pitch and back row Jegou hammers it downfield.

Will Jordan calms things down a bit with a neat kick to touch.

Ethan de Groot can't gather the ball and Maxime Lucu is a lucky, lucky boy.

He picked the ball up and threw it backwards towards his line, but it bounced off the post and Lakai was nearly over for his second try.

Fortunately for France, there was still the advantage from de Groot's knock on.