New Zealand saved their best for last as they punctuated their unbeaten tour of the northern hemisphere with a comprehensive 39-12 win over France in Marseille on Saturday.

The All Blacks, having already seen off Wales (19-12), Italy (20-6) and England (19-6) without really hitting second gear, showed a welcome willingness to run the ball against the French.

In return, their sure-handedness in the offload and ability to turn the slightest mistake by the French into an attacking opportunity made for some often breath-taking rugby that resulted in five tries.

The visitors overcame a nervous opening 10 minutes to score five-pointers through Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mils Muliaina, Jerome Kaino, Cory Jane and Conrad Smith, with the exceptional Dan Carter booting an additional 14 points.

France, who had sprung a 20-13 win over South Africa and posted a facile 43-5 victory over Samoa in their autumn internationals, responded with three Julien Dupuy penalties and a Francois Trinh-Duc drop-goal.

Dupuy opened the scoring from 35 metres after three minutes, but the All Blacks came firing back, Yannick Jauzion hauling down Ma'a Nonu within striking distance of the French line before Sitivatu skipped through the threadbare defence.

Carter converted and was then on hand to produce a potential try-saving tackle on Fabien Barcella after Jauzion had exploited a huge hole in midfield.

Dupuy kicked his second penalty on the quarter-hour mark to pull the score back to 7-6, the Stade Francais scrum-half adding to his tally when flanker Kaino released his binding from another scrum under enormous pressure.

But after a bad tactical choice by Dupuy, Jimmy Cowan spread the ball wide in the New Zealand 22m area, the speeding Sivivatu turning provider by drawing Vincent Clerc and offloading to full-back Muliaina for an easy try.

Carter missed the conversion but grabbed a 29th minute penalty before Kaino touched down amid a mass of bodies for a try Carter converted.

Trinh-Duc pulled back three points with a 35-metre drop-goal to leave the All Blacks 22-12 up at half-time, but Dupuy missed two costly pots at goal early in the second-half.

Carter then showed why many consider himself the world's best rugby player, mixing solid defence with deft handling touches and chips.

Jane scored the All Blacks' fourth try in the 61st minute, finding himself in space down the right flank and gathering his own chip over Traille to touch down.

Smith rubbed French noses in it when he skipped down the blindside unmolested for a try Carter also converted as tempers frayed between a well-beaten home side and an All Blacks team that now play the Barbarians in London next week.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP