New Zealand opened their 2025 Test season with a hard-fought 31-27 victory over France in Dunedin on Saturday, becoming the first international side to reach 500 Test wins. The result gives the All Blacks a 1-0 lead in the three-match July series. Wing Will Jordan crossed twice, while Tupou Vaa’i and Jordie Barrett added further tries. Fly-half Beauden Barrett converted all four scores and landed a penalty six minutes from time to secure the margin. An under-strength French team, containing eight first-caps, had led 10-0 early and stayed within a point for much of the second half thanks to tries from No. 8 Mickaël Guillard, wing Gabin Villière and replacement lock-flanker Cameron Woki. Scott Robertson also blooded new All Blacks forwards Fabian Holland and Du’Plessis Kirifi, but his side were repeatedly stretched by the visitors, who made 224 tackles according to match statistics. Les Bleus, coached by Fabien Galthié and missing most of their Top 14 finalists despite five late call-ups, will look to level the series when the teams meet again in Wellington on 12 July before the finale in Auckland a week later.