All Blacks hold off depleted France in thriller and Wales slump again in Japan

• Wales capitulate to their 18th successive Test defeat

• Scotland beat Māori All Blacks; Georgia 5-34 Ireland

Will Jordan scored a try in each half and Beauden Barrett kicked to perfection as New Zealand overcame three cancelled tries to claim a nervous 31-27 win over France in the series-opener in Dunedin.

Fielding only three players from the Six Nations title-deciding win over Scotland, the depleted France side gave Scott Robertson's team a huge scare in an entertaining match at a sold-out Forsyth Barr stadium. However, a late Barrett penalty proved enough for the All Blacks to hold on, ending a three-match losing streak against Les Bleus.