The try from the end of the world that handed the All Blacks their last defeat at Eden Park

The try from the end of the world that handed the All Blacks their last defeat at Eden Park

Eden Park has become a real fortress for New Zealand in the professional era with the All Blacks having not lost a single test match at the stadium since 1994.

The last time the All Blacks did lose a test at the fortress was against a fantastic French side all the back in 1994. The French played a two-test series against the All Blacks and claimed an unprecedented 2-0 victory.

In the first test, Les Bleus claimed a 22–8 victory in the first test over New Zealand in Christchurch which at the time was their biggest ever victory over New Zealand - a record that still stands to this day.

However, it was the second test that produced one of the best tries and upsets in French rugby and world rugby history. France trailed New Zealand 20–16 after an unconverted try from All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick and five penalties from the boot of centre Matthew Cooper. 


France had stayed in the game thanks to a try from Emile Ntamack, Romain Ntamack's father, penalties from Thierry Lacroix and Christophe Deylaud.

But with three minutes to play, New Zealand punted the ball downfield with Philippe Saint-André starting a move in his own 22 which, 65 seconds later, ended with Jean-Luc Sadourny crossing the French line to score what became known as l'essai du bout du monde (the try from the end of the world), giving them a 23–20 victory.





Line Ups (15-9, 8-1): 

New Zealand: John Timu, John Kirwan, Frank Bunce, Matthew Cooper, Jonah Lomu, Stephen Bachop, Stu Forster, Olo Brown, Sean Fitzpatrick (c), Richard Loe, Mark Cooksley, Ian Jones, Blair Larsen, Mike Brewer, Zinzan Brooke

France: Jean-Luc Sadourny, Emile Ntamack, Philippe Sella, Philippe Saint-Andre (c), Thierry Lacroix, Christophe Deylaud, Guy Accoceberry, Laurent Benezech, Jean-Michel Gonzalez, Christian Califano, Olivier Merle, Olivier Roumat, Abdelatif Benazzi, Laurent Cabannes, Philippe Benetton




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