The All Blacks' season started with a home loss to France and was followed by three defeats by the Springboks in the Tri-Nations, and coach Graham Henry said a good win against France was needed to put an indifferent season behind them.
New Zealand rugby writers heaped praise on fly-half Dan Carter and inspirational skipper Richie McCaw and said the five-try All Blacks' performance in Marseille showed rugby's current rules did not rule out an expansive, running game.
New Zealand Herald rugby writer Wynne Gray said the All Blacks ended their Test year with a flourish.
"It was some sort of rugby renaissance and a slap for those who claim the laws have strangled the game," Gray said.
"It was a resounding response from a side which has battled to impose themselves this season."
Dominion Post rugby writer Toby Robson said the All Blacks were at their "imperious best", casting aside the shackles which gripped them all year.
"Just when we thought the brilliance of yesteryear had been lost in a sea of rule changes and negative play, along comes the performance of the year," Robson said.
"By sheer will, skill and excellence they breathed life into the international game with a performance that will have restored the faith of even the most jaded New Zealand rugby fan."
Fairfax Media's Duncan Johnstone said the All Blacks and France had found an answer to the kick-dominated attack which dominated international rugby this year.
"As the IRB (International Rugby Board) gather in Dublin this week to check the pulse of their much-criticised game, they should be sending out DVDs of this Marseille match to show a blueprint on how to breathe life into a struggling spectacle," he said.
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