Antoine Dupont. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)

France made a massive statement by beating New Zealand by a record 40-25 margin on Saturday in a dress rehearsal for the 2023 Rugby World Cup opener.

The Blues won a first victory over the All Blacks since 2009 thanks to the double of Peato Mauvaka and the efforts of Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud as well as the points of Melvyn Jaminet on the boot.

New Zealand lost a second game in the space of seven days after losing to Ireland last weekend and conceded 40 or more points for the second time in two years.

“I don’t know if we understood what happened. The score is there at the end, in style. It’s incredible,” Blues captain Antoine Dupont told France Télévisions.

“We always had this game in mind. Even though we had to focus every weekend, everyone had it in their heads.

“It will be remembered. We had some great victories with the team and this one we will remember for sure,” he added.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster lamented his side’s performance in the first half – they conceded three tries in the first 32 minutes – before falling within two points of the hosts in the final quarter.

“They came out very strong. They put pressure on us from the start,” Foster told reporters.

“I was delighted with the way we came back to it and the way we put them under pressure. We have to learn to do more,” he added.

France head coach Fabien Galthie brought Romain Ntamack back to the opener with powerful center Jonathan Danty brought to midfield.

Foster made seven changes from last weekend’s loss in Dublin with Richie Mo’unga at the opening instead of Beauden Barrett, who suffered a concussion at Landsdowne Road.

Hooker Peato Mauvaka, born closer to Auckland than Paris in New Caledonia, won his fourth try in three Trials in November, taking advantage of the back of a rolling maul after less than three minutes.

Visiting full-back Jordie Barrett closed the gap to one point with two penalty goals before the noise in north Paris was lifted another octave.

The Blues progressed from their half of the field with a succession of phases of a pass before Romain Ntamack moved back with his right foot inside the opponent Mo’unga to dive, justifying Galthie’s decision to bring him back to the opening.

Jaminet’s second conversion went 14-6 to cap off an exciting first quarter before Danty justified his selection at the inside center by bulldozing over 122 kg, 2.04 m with Brodie Retallick.

Mauvaka had another reason to celebrate after half an hour after repeating his early half-time feat to crash into a rolling maul.

Led 24-6 at the break, the All Blacks came out of the locker room early after the break and gained momentum by copying the first-half tactics of the one-pass hosts before Barrett found a way in the corner.

The full-back, however, who had had a bad first half failed with his conversion on the sideline.

The Blues’ lead was again reduced to half an hour to go as center Rieko Ioane sprinted 40m and Barrett’s conversion took the score to 24-18, setting up a tense final of 30 minutes.

Disturbing signs of an All Blacks return intensified after 58 minutes as Ardie Savea charged from close range, Barrett converting again to reach 27-25.

Home support rediscovered their voice with 17 minutes remaining as Ntamack escaped his own try line and Jaminet took a penalty two phases later to extend the lead to five points.

With 12 minutes remaining, New Zealand tried to throw the ball from 22 yards but Damian Penaud intercepted David Havili’s loop pass to cross unopposed under the posts.

Leading 37-25, the Blues closed the game clinically while Jaminet brought his total of the evening to 20 points with a penalty goal with the clock in the red.

It ended a bad day for the Southern Hemisphere teams as Australia lost 29-28 to Wales, world champions South Africa lost 27-26 to the England while Japan were beaten 29-20 by Scotland.