Australia win arm-wrestle with France
The Wallabies grind out a 6-0 against an improved France to win the series while New Zealand edge England by a point.
Australia clinched their three-Test series against France with a dour 6-0 win in the second match the lowest-scoring encounter ever between the two teams.
Second-half penalties from flyhalf Bernard Foley and scrumhalf Nic White provided the only points in a match that offered plenty of opportunities for both teams that neither could capitalise on.
Despite France opening the match at a frenetic pace, triggering a determined counterattack by the Australians, the scores were locked at 0-0 at halftime.
Australia was denied a try in the 22nd minute when Matt Toomua was ruled to have interfered with French fullback Dulin while chasing his own kick before number eight Ben McCalman touched down.
Yannick Nyanga had best chance for France two minutes from the break when he charged down a Toomua kick inside 10 meters, only to lose his grip on the ball short of the line.
New Zealand win series
New Zealand exploded for three tries in the second-half to beat England 28-27 in the second match at Otago Regional Stadium in Dunedin and clinch their three-Test series with a match to play.
The All Blacks are now unbeaten in 32 Tests in New Zealand, a run stretching back almost five years and have won 28 of their 30 internationals since they clinched their second World Cup in 2011.
Farrell slotted an early penalty and converted Marland Yarde’s seventh-minute try after England scrumhalf Danny Care had delayed his pass until the defenders were committed and the winger burst through McCaw’s tackle.
All Blacks flyhalf Aaron Cruden responded with two first-half penalties before the home side exploded early in the second-half, finally managing to hold on to the ball as they launched a breathtaking counter-attack from 80 metres out that led to fullback Smith going in under the posts.
Savea then went over in the corner to cap off a 12-point scoring burst inside five minutes before Nonu grabbed the third try when Farrell was in the sinbin.
Brown scored inside the final 10 minutes to keep England within sight, but by the time Ashton scored his try in the final minute the game was over and only made the scoreline look closer than the match was.