France

More than 96 percent of New Caledonians voted against independence in a referendum boycotted by Kanaks. It was the last of three referendums, which concluded the 1998 Noumea Accord on the territory's decolonisation.

The Accord's provisions on the territory's institutional make-up remain in place until a new statute has been adopted.

While the anti-independence camp and Paris welcomed the referendum result, the pro-independence parties said the vote was bogus and they would not recognise its outcome.

Just as they did last week, France struck first with a try after taking advantage of a Fiji loose pass.

Fijian forward Joseva Talacolo registered his country's first points racing away for an unconverted try from the restart.

France had most of the possession in the first half and tried to break the Fijian defense.

Fiji's defensive effort paid off when they turned the ball over at a break down before Filipe Sauturaga ran in for their second try.

Ms Pinot accused her partner and judo trainer Alain Schmitt of punching and attempting to strangle her during an altercation over the weekend.

The Olympic gold medallist, 27, filed a complaint against Mr Schmitt.

He was arrested but denied the allegations and was acquitted in court.

A judge said there was not "enough proof of guilt" for the prosecution to proceed when delivering his verdict in a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

"A court is never there to tell who is telling the truth and who is lying," the judge said.

Stade de France in Paris this morning.

After leading 24-6 at half-time, the French weathered an all Black fightback in the second half and sealed the victory with a try to Damian Penaud in the 66th minute.

New Zealand had not lost against Les Bleus since 2009 and had been unbeaten in France since 2000.

It was the final game of the All Blacks' 2021 season and followed a 29-20 loss to Ireland last week. It was the second back-to-back defeat for the team in 12 months.

New Zealand are coming off a 29-20 loss to Ireland last weekend where they were, by their own admission, outplayed in most departments, and are looking to avoid back-to-back defeats for the second time in 12 months.

"We've had a really good week. Hopefully that means we show up on Sunday," Whitelock said.

"They (France) are a smart side and they will stick to their strengths, but at the same time they will have looked at the last four or five games we have played and come up with a plan.

Wakeham has made it into one of the Top14’s most glamorous outfits just three years after making the Fiji U16 rugby team. The 18-year-old, who stands at 208cm, was first identified by FRU development officer Bill Gadolo in 2018 and was called to join the national U16 team in Suva.

“When I answered the phone call from Bill Gadolo, I thought it was the police, but when he told me that he can help develop my rugby skills to be a future Flying Fijian, I knew this is an opportunity to pursue my dream as a young rugby player,” Wakeham told the Fiji Times at the time.

Dupont, considered arguably the best halfback in the world, has been named captain with regular skipper Charles Ollivon likely to be out until next year with a knee injury.

France host Argentina on Nov. 6, and then Georgia and New Zealand on consecutive weekends after that, and Dupont believes the last of those clashes will be key with the two sides to also clash at the Stade de France in the opening game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The All Blacks finished the competition on Saturday with a narrow 31-29 loss at the hands of South Africa on the Gold Coast, with the defeat seeing New Zealand cede the number one ranking in world rugby back to the Springboks.

"Have we learnt anything that will hold us in good stead for 2023? I think so," said Foster, whose side had clinched The Rugby Championship title last weekend.

"We've spent good time together, we've learned how to manage the ups and downs of different schedules, different travel routines than we would normally have.

The top eight African teams compete in the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 in France, which will serve as the last qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup.

The French are also hosts of the 2023 World Cup, which will be held in September-October.

The African knockout tournament will be in July 2022, with the winning team directly qualifying for the World Cup and set to join hosts France, New Zealand’s top-ranked All Blacks, Italy and the Americas 1 qualifier in Pool A.

The runners-up will get a place in the final qualification tournament for the world showpiece event.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected accusations that Australia had lied, saying France should have been aware it was prepared to break the deal.

France says the Aukus pact has led to a "serious crisis" between the allies.

In an unprecedented move, it has recalled its ambassadors from the US and Australia as a sign of protest.

Under the Aukus pact, Australia will be given the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines as a way of countering China's influence in the contested South China Sea.