The Black Ferns have slumped to a shock 25-16 defeat to France in their third match of the Women's Rugby Super Series in San Diego on Sunday (NZT).
France were at their clinical best against the reigning world champions, outscoring New Zealand three tries to one at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Centre.
The Ferns were desperate to avenge the 30-27 defeat against the French last November, but France proved too strong once again on the back of an outstanding first half and spirited defence.
New Zealand headed into the game having won their opening two games of the tournament (Canada 35-20, USA 33-0), while France were coming off a 36-19 loss to Canada in their opening game of the tournament.
But the Black Ferns were poor and struggled to match France's intensity, who raced out to a 15-0 lead after just 15 minutes.
Winger Caroline Boujard scored the game's opening try when she stepped past some dismal New Zealand defence, but it was their second try which was the pick of the game through centre Maëlan Filopon.
Jessy Tremouliere's long-range penalty goal came off the post and flew into the hands of Filopon, and she weaved past the lazy Kiwi defence for France's second.
The Black Ferns tried their best to get in the match, but couldn't crack the French defence and had to settle for two penalty goals from captain Kendra Cocksedge, who was in playing her 50th test, as France took an 18-6 lead into the halftime break.
New Zealand opened the scoring in the second half when Cocksedge kicked her third penalty, but a mistake by the halfback led to France scoring their third through Tremouliere.
Cocksedge's penalty kick to touch failed to go out, and Tremouliere ran through a gaping hole in the New Zealand defence to score.
Filopon was forced off the field with a severe leg injury, and the French were then forced to play the last five minutes with 13 players, after Pauline Bourdon and Gaelle Hermet were sin-binned for repeated infringements, and the Black Ferns were awarded a penalty try.
The defeat was the first for the Black Ferns in the tournament, having beaten Canada 35-20 and the USA 33-0 last week.
New Zealand now face England in their final match on July 15.
Newshub.
