Ten minutes away from kick off now. Everything has been said, everyone is set. France are making their way out onto the field.
Kieran Read now leading the All Blacks out. He is the 42nd All Black to reach 50 test matches.
We are about to get our national anthem on. Will there be tears tonight?
A passionate gentleman with a David Brent style goatee fires out a spirited rendition of the French anthem. I give it a 7/10.
The crowd gets in behind the Kiwi anthem. Touching maori first verse, then a heavy hitting english follow up. I'm going to go 7.5/10, first blood to the Kiwis.
Haka time! Piri Weepu is back, and there's no haka like a Piri Weepu lead Haka. Inspiring!
The crowd are absolutely eating it up. Plenty of feeling in that one and we are ready to go.
France with the kickoff and it sits up for Aaron Smith who thumps it into touch.
Good contact from Smith and France have the first lineout of the game on the halfway line.
Machenaud and Smith exchange kicks, it's an early game of forceback as Dagg gets in on the act and the ball goes dead. France restart from the 22.
Kicking is the preferred method tonight. Ma'a Nonu fires a kick deep into French territory and it runs out of play. Early pressure on the French.
The All Blacks applied the pressure and the French couldn't deal with it. Nonu dropped in a cheeky grubber kick, Savea was first to the ball and strolled over for an easy try.
We are checking with the video men upstairs, but all looks good.
It was the second great kick in a row from Ma'a Nonu. The perfect start from the All Blacks.
Aaron Cruden lines up the conversion from slightly left on the 22.
Nails it, he struggled with the boot at Eden Park but he's off to a great start tonight.
4 MINS - ALL BLACKS 7 FRANCE 0
All Blacks are driving the French back again now. Good possession 10m out.
The French turn over position but knock the ball on. All Blacks will have a scrum 10m out. Great position.
Aaron Smith fires a pass to Conrad Smith off the back of the scrum but the ball slips through his fingers and is knocked on.
Rain has stopped here at ami stadium. Stage is set.by Toby Robson via twitter 6/15/2013 7:23:45 AM
