A determined All Blacks side battled their way to a 14-10 win over France in a bruising second rugby Test in Wellington on Saturday to level the series.

The sides scored a try apiece, with the telling difference being the kicking of the New Zealanders, who landed three penalties in atrocious wintry weather while France were rewarded with a conversion and a penalty.

Apart from the scrums, where France again dominated, New Zealand showed they had learned from their shortcomings when beaten 27-22 in the first Test last week.

They led 8-0 at halftime and were never behind at any stage in the match as their forwards took control of the breakdown.

The four-point margin was not enough for the All Blacks to retain the Dave Gallaher Trophy at stake in the Test series between the two countries.

New Zealand needed to win by six points or more to make up the points differential but that was not an issue for coach Graham Henry, who said that bouncing back from last week's loss mattered most to him.

"We're just pleased we won. We improved from last week. If we hadn't improved from last week we would have been in trouble," he said.

"The forwards, in the set piece, set us a platform and six, seven and eight (loose forwards Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer and Kieran Read) I thought played very well.

"The game was a bit of a lottery because of the conditions obviously, but the best team won."

That was not a sentiment shared by French captain Thierry Dusautoir.

"We are happy to have won the trophy but we thought we could have won the game as well," he said.

"We have shown our players can play against the best in the world."

Although France were expecting a New Zealand backlash, they were unable to handle the ferocity of the All Blacks forwards in the early exchanges.

The wind and driving rain dictated that it would not be attractive rugby and the match was riddled with handling errors.

The All Blacks opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a try to Ma'a Nonu after Isaac Ross and Latimer had sparked a series of All Blacks drives at the line which lasted until France eventually ran out of defensive numbers.

Stephen Donald, who did not have a comfortable night in the wind, missed the conversion but landed his first penalty from three attempts just before halftime for the All Blacks to turn 8-0 ahead.

Five minutes into the second half a brilliant solo effort by French winger Heymans narrowed the gap as he stepped around four would-be tacklers in a 50 metre run to the line.

Julien Dupuy added the extras and France trailed 8-7 but that was as close as they would get.

They had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Heymans chipped through and winger Vincent Clerc latched on to the ball metres from the line but he dropped it when tackled by All Blacks lock Brad Thorn.

The All Blacks regained the initiative with Nonu and Kieran Read both going close before Donald landed his second penalty and New Zealand led 11-7 with 35 minutes remaining.

Luke McAlister, a replacement for Donald, landed a penalty into the wind to extend the All Blacks lead to 14-7 before French replacement Dmitry Yachvili replied to close out the scoring.

In a dramatic closing 15 minutes the All Blacks and France both pressured the try line but the defence of both sides remained rock solid.

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