France believe this utterly thrilling victory in Marseilles should have been the icing on the cake of a resounding 3-0 triumph over the southern hemisphere teams instead of a 2-1 defeat in this mini-series.
According to the France coach Bernard Laporte, only a temporary loss of brain power was responsible for distorting the score lines of their previous losses to Australia and New Zealand earlier this month.
He said: "We studied the videos of our last two defeats and we knew the scores were not a fair reflection. We should have beaten the All Blacks by more than we did tonight.
"I have always said we have nothing to envy their teams. I went to the southern hemisphere to see for myself. So I know what I am talking about.
"The fact that we lost to Australia and New Zealand before was down to the fact we played like idiots."
Strong words from Laporte and not for the first time during a week in which France ruthlessly analysed their disciplinary shortcomings to the extent that their captain Fabien Pelous threatened anyone who refused to listen with the sack.
You could see France were psychologically primed for this game by their cold defiance as they lined up arm in arm to face down the intimidating Haka before the start.
Their determination was rewarded when first Xavier Garbajosa and then Olivier Magne had a full house of 60,000 in ecstasy with their tries.
Wayne Smith, the All Blacks coach, admitted: "We made basic errors and we simply cannot afford to let France take a 17-point lead. We showed a lot of courage in coming back but the French were too strong for us.
"The first 20 minutes were without doubt among the most intense I have seen in any international match. The French deserved to win. They controlled the game and the crowd were a big help to them."
The coolest head was that of Christophe Lamaison who kicked 27 points without a single miss, so reviving memories of his flawless performance in France's historic World Cup semi-final win over the All Blacks at Twickenham last year.
One of his five penalties was a colossal hoof from inside his own half and it was fitting he should put the win beyond reach with his second drop goal in the final seconds.
Lamaison said: "We have pulled off something big. We could not lose here even if Marseilles is a soccer city. I'd be here every week if it was to play a match like this."
But France had other exceptional heroes, notably Magne, Pelous and, at the age of 34, the full-back JeanLuc Sadourny, making an emotional comeback. He was cruelly cast aside 18 months ago after a heavy tour defeat in New Zealand preceded a World Cup that went on without him.
Sadourny said: "I got the revenge I hoped for. That would have been a bad way to finish an international career. Now I have had my jubilee game. It has been a very good week for me."
FRANCE: Sadourny; Bernat-Salles, Comba, R Dourthe, Garbajosa; Lamaison, Galthie (Carbonneau, 73min); Marconnet (Califano 52), Landreau (Azam, 81), De Villiers, Pelous, Auradou (Brouzet, 52), Moni (Betsen, 70), Juillet, Magne.
NEW ZEALAND: Cullen; Howlett, Umaga, Gibson, Reihana; Mehrtens, Marshall; Feek, Oliver (Hammett, 75), Somerville (Slater, 38), Maxwell (Flavell, 83), Blackadder, Thorne (Randell, 50), Cribb, Robertson.
Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa).
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