Christchurch stadium’s fast track set to produce typical All Blacks-France thriller in Dave Rennie’s coaching debut

Saturday, 4 July 2026

Beauden Barrett races away to score late in the second test against France in Christchurch in 2013.

ANALYSIS: It’s a milestone match for Dave Rennie and Christchurch’s spanking new stadium as a burst of firsts greet the All Blacks and France for Saturday’s Nations Championship opener.

One New Zealand Stadium - New Zealand’s 15th test rugby venue - will host the biggest sporting crowd of its rookie year.

Extra seats have been installed to house 30,000 black-clad fans for the biggest rugby international crowd in Christchurch since Lancaster Park slipped into the earthquake abyss 16 years ago.

It’s the All Blacks’ first Nations Championships game, Rennie’s first test as New Zealand coach and the first international in Ōtautahi for four years - nine current All Blacks carry bitter memories of that 2022 defeat to Argentina.

But as Matariki’s stars loom over Te Kaha’s clear roof, the French encounter marks a new dawn, both for the Rennie epoch and for a venue Crusaders chiefs have already anointed “New Zealand’s new national stadium”.

And there could not be a more fitting foe than France as two of world rugby’s most exciting backlines get set for a thriller on the fast, dry indoor track.

The All Blacks have a formidable eight win-one loss record against the French in Christchurch, but few visiting teams have excited as much as Les Bleus.

Legendary All Blacks lock Colin Meads puts pressure on France halfback Pierre Lacroix in 1961 during the first test encounter between the two teams at Christchurch’s Lancaster Park.

François Moncla brought France south in 1961 as unofficial world champions. They had clinched a series against the Springboks in 1958 and had won or shared three successive Five Nations titles.

The ‘61 tour had featured an irate woman spectator belting a French forward with an umbrella after spotting some skulduggery at a match in Timaru.

But the series was already over with the tourists trailing 2-0 by the time of the third test at Lancaster Park.

Almost 57,000 crammed in - 11,000 were queuing when the Victory Park gates opened hours before kick-off. The contest was billed as the All Blacks’ forward might versus France’s flair.

Yet the attack-minded All Blacks triumphed 32-3. Their biggest test win in 32 years led a Paris newspaper to lament: “France’s world champion 15 met its Waterloo in Christchurch”.

The All Blacks ground out a 12-9 win in 1968 on a pitch so muddy that Fergie McCormick missed eight out of 11 shots at goal.

The 1979 clash showcased two great flanker captains in Graham Mourie and Jean-Pierre Rives. The All Blacks - without a single Cantab - won 23-9.

John Kirwan made his test debut against France in 1984 at 19. The All Blacks prevailed 10-9 after “Monsieur Le Drop”, Jean-Patrick Lescarboura fluffed four field goal attempts.

David Kirk - now NZ Rugby’s chairman - made his test captaincy bow in 1986 as the Baby Blacks upset France 18-9.

Jonah Lomu, 19, bursts past France’s Emile Ntamack in 1994 on his All Blacks test debut at Lancaster Park.

Under storied Canterbury coach Alex Wyllie, the 1989 All Blacks made hard work of a 25-17 win after leading 18-0.

Kirwan fronted in 1994 for a record 59th cap while Philippe Sella, France’s prince of centres, became the first test rugby player to make 100 appearances.

1994 also marked Jonah Lomu’s debut, but France celebrated a first win in Christchurch, 22-8.

Coach Pierre Berbizier - halfback in the three 1980s defeat - said: “Some great French names have appeared in teams which have not won at Lancaster Park. These players have inscribed themselves in history forever.”

But France crashed 31-23 in 2003 against an All Blacks side graced by all-time Crusaders greats Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.

Hometown coach Steve Hansen - a keen-eyed onlooker at Thursday’s training session at Te Kaha - was in charge for 2013’s 30-0 whitewash of France at Addington’s Rugby League Park.

So forget French superstar Antoine Dupont’s no-show. Whatever the score on Saturday - and histoire favours the All Blacks, Christchurch fans in 2026 are as likely to remember the flair of Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu as fondly as the memories of Jo Maso, Sella and Serge Blanco of yesteryear.