Revelations about French drug-taking before the 1986 Battle of Nantes have not surprised All Black legend Wayne Shelford who was badly injured during that defeat.

In French rugby, different rules apply. Dan Carter got a taste of what life will be like at Racing Metro when he played five matches for Perpignan in 2009...

The rugby world has turned upside down. Australia, with its history of scrum woes.

Every one of today's final round of JWC pool games has something riding on it, but none more so, as far as the home side is concerned, than the Wales-France Pool B showdown in Albany.

From the get-go, this clash appealed as the tightest fixture of the day.

France operate at their best on raw emotion. They are at their best when they are seemingly hopeless cases. Then, the natural order of things tends to go out the window.

France, forever touted as an All Black nemesis, are nothing of the sort, writes Gregor Paul. Their record against NZ is fairly dire.

The All Blacks know the when, but they don't know where they will be facing France when they meet next and they have even less idea about what sort of side they will encounter.

Centre, wing or fullback - the questions about where Ben Smith is best suited are likely to continue for some time.

Contentment rather than elation flooded the All Black camp last night. Their ability to emerge triumphant against what they felt was the best French performance of the series was being cherished.

As Steve Hansen picks over the remains of this untidy All Blacks performance, he can at least comfort himself with the fact that he is more aware of several things about his players.

The All Blacks have made a clean sweep of France after winning their third and final test 24-9 at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth tonight.

Kieran Read probably shouldn't have played the last half-hour against France.

Few things satisfy coaches as much as their players carrying out their plans to the letter - and winning.

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre is now absorbing the pain he inflicted on the All Blacks 19 years ago.

Last week France coach Philippe Saint-Andre had regrets. This time he has big problems with serious injuries to influential No8 Louis Picamoles and first-five Freddie Michalak.

Some subtle structural amendments and more time in training were credited with the vast improvement in the All Blacks' defensive effort - the unquestionable area of excellence that allowed them to hold France scoreless for the first time in history.

The All Blacks did their homework and executed their game plan almost perfectly last night.

Images from the All Blacks second test against France at AMI Stadium, June 15 2013.

The All Blacks realise now that France's real weapon of choice is not their scrum, but their midfield.

All Black coach Steve Hansen didn't re-use his infamous "flush the dunny and move on" line last night but he must have been tempted.

Test match victories are like children - they have to be loved unconditionally. Last night's victory wasn't a thing of beauty. It wasn't a game to revel in. But it was a victory.