Debutant lock Isaac Ross admitted France handed New Zealand a lesson in forward play during yesterday's 27-22 defeat in Dunedin.

Les Bleus were aggressive from the outset, blasting the All Blacks off the ball in the rucks, setting up driving mauls from lineouts, scrumming well and generally out-muscling a home side missing a host of their leading stars.

New Zealand struggled when the French got their drive going and it was their inability to deal with that facet of play early on and costly turnovers at the breakdown which gave the visitors the impetus to forge a 17-3 lead.

The French defence was outstanding but they also showed a return to an attacking style after adopting a more conservative approach under former coach Bernard Laporte.

While the All Blacks improved in the second-half to draw level at 17-17, Ross admitted: "That was northern hemisphere rugby at its finest.

"We got taught a bit of a lesson. We came out at half-time fizzing but you can't leave it to half-time, especially with a team like the French. When they get good momentum going they're hard to stop."

The New Zealanders struggled to adapt to the new rule at the breakdown where if the first tackler has his hands on the ball, he is allowed to keep them there even if a ruck is formed and Ross felt that was definitely an area which they need to work on ahead of Saturday's second Test in Wellington.

"The French pride themselves on their pack," he added.

"They got good line speed on us and especially on defence and with the new rule changes with the hands in the ruck, they slowed our ball down and we played into their hands.

"We've got to go back to the drawing board and bring something better than we did."

It was a tough introduction to international rugby for Ross, who had an outstanding season with the Crusaders alongside fellow All Black Brad Thorn.

The lineout was probably the one area where New Zealand enjoyed some success with Ross the top jumper with six takes for the All Blacks. He also managed to steal some French ball as well.

"It's about four to five rungs higher than Super 14," Ross admitted.

"Right from the first lineout you're getting elbows and punches in the head and stuff like that. It's welcome to Test rugby. But you've just got to adapt to that and move on and do your job."

There will be plenty of work to do across the park for the All Blacks before the Wellington encounter and France forward Sebastien Chabal hinted that after two successive victories against the All Blacks - they also bundled the favourites out of the 2007 World Cup - his side may have gained a psychological advantage heading into the match at Westpac Stadium.

"Maybe now they will start to doubt. Next week if we can stay in the game during the first 30 minutes they will start to doubt," he said.

"After that if we play 100% and don't make too many mistakes, we can win next week too."

But Chabal, who came on for the final 20 minutes at Carisbrook, added that there would be no over-confidence from the French who are now just one win away from repeating the success of the 1994 team, who were the last side to win a series on New Zealand soil.

"If we don't prepare for the game next week we can lose by 60 points. I know that because the last time I came here we conceded almost 100 points in two games. Staying focused and preparing well is important," he added.

France eventually outscored the All Blacks three tries to two with an intercept by Maxime Medard sealing the win.

"We try to play a bit more than we did under Bernard Laporte," Chabal underlined.

"We have a lot of freedom on the pitch and we can take some initiative and play how we feel.

"But the more important thing is to be physical and to play territory because when the All Blacks are in your half it is always dangerous."