Rugby-New Zealand face battle to level series against France

WELLINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - New Zealand will face an uphill battle to level their test series against France in Wellington next Saturday after the visitors produced an outstanding defensive performance in the first match in Dunedin.

France prevailed 27-22 at Carisbrook, where their defenders constantly drove the All Blacks backwards and disrupted the flow of their attack.

It was just their fourth win in 21 tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said his young side had a lot to work on to stop the French emulating their 1994 counterparts, who won the two-test series 2-0.

"Our scrum struggled and we didn't have a platform ... We got knocked over behind the advantage line a lot and tried to attack from there," Henry said.

The All Blacks were trailing 17-3 inside the first 30 minutes before a Stephen Donald penalty and Liam Messam try in the final minutes of the half brought the home side back into the match.

Two further Donald penalties in the second half tied the game at 17-17 before the match turned sour for the All Blacks.

France's Julien Dupuy slotted his second penalty and fullback Maxime Medard intercepted a Luke McAlister pass to give their side a 10-point lead with nine minutes remaining. The All Blacks were missing several key forwards at Carisbrook with lock Isaac Ross making his debut, while Adam Thomson was the most experienced of the loose forwards with just nine previous test appearances.

Both Henry and All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen said their inexperienced forwards had found it difficult to cope with the physicality of the French.

"I don't think anyone took anyone too lightly. Experience is a big thing when you go into test matches," Hansen told reporters in Dunedin on Sunday.

"We have a number of guys who hadn't experienced that intensity and got caught out by it.

"Once we got into the game we actually competed okay, but we've still got a long way to go to get that physical presence we need to have to be really competitive.

Thomson has been ruled out for six weeks with a broken hand, which will force Henry to rethink his loose forward combination.

On Saturday, Thomson played openside flanker, Kieran Read was number six and Liam Messam played number eight. All three played blindside flanker for their Super 14 sides this season.

Tanerau Latimer, who came off the bench for Thomson, may get the nod to provide a specialist number seven next Saturday, while last season's regular blindside flanker Jerome Kaino is expected to return from a knee injury.

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)