Les Bleus held their try-line for half an hour but once it had been breached, the All Blacks piled on the points courtesy of their three-quarter duo and replacement number eight Rodney So'oialo.

Winger Jean Francois Coux scored on his debut in the second half for the French side, a stitched-together selection of gnarled veterans and greenhorns.

Despite intense pressure, the hosts neared the break with a narrow 6-3 lead.

Carter's penalty brace sandwiched a Benjamin Boyet kick for the only points until the Kiwis struck through Mauger.

Receiving the ball from a line-out, Carter fed Josevata Rokocoko. The winger breached the defence and combined with Isaia Toeava, who fed his midfield colleague for the opening five-pointer.

Six minutes on, Sivivatu tapped on a Carter kick and outpaced Thomas Castaignede to touch down.

The injury-enforced removal of captain Richie McCaw and fly-half Daniel Carter came at half-time, although both moves appeared precautionary rather than matters of serious concern.

Carter's replacement Nick Evans extended the lead early in the second period, and Sivivatu claimed his second after the Kiwi pack won a five-metre scrum against the head.

Despite Boyet's temporary exclusion for persistent offside 25 minutes after the interval, Olivier Magne's clever kick put in Coux for his first international points.

But the hosts responded within minutes through a breakaway by Mauger that restored the cushion, with Evans converting.

So'oialo, McCaw's substitute, drove over from short range to bring up 40 points for his team eight minutes from time.