New Zealand coach Dave Rennie expressed relief following the All Blacks' narrow 34-32 victory over France in their opening match of the Nations Championship on Saturday. The game, held in Christchurch, marked Rennie's debut as head coach after he replaced Scott Robertson earlier this year amid a period of underwhelming results for New Zealand.

The All Blacks overcame a resilient French side, rallying from behind three times during the contest. France fielded a weakened squad, notably missing players from top French clubs Toulouse and Montpellier. Despite this, the visitors proved competitive, registering four tries compared to New Zealand’s five.

Rennie, 62, who previously coached in Kobe, Japan, emphasized his desire to see an optimistic and attacking style of play. He highlighted the team's high tempo and ball-handling efficiency throughout the match. “We were able to play with a really high tempo, a lot of quick ball, almost 85 percent,” Rennie said, describing the approach as “just outrageous.” He praised the squad’s effort and willingness to embrace an expansive game plan focused on minimizing kicking and maximizing running opportunities.

However, Rennie also noted a number of errors and what he described as a “mixed defensive effort” by the All Blacks. While New Zealand excelled at recycling possession rapidly at the breakdown, France matched their speed and put significant pressure on the home side’s defense.

Looking ahead, New Zealand is scheduled to face Italy next Saturday, aiming to build momentum in the Nations Championship under their new leadership.