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| ** All Blacks thump France |
Adam Thomson and Richie McCaw of the All Blacks tackle Lionel Nallet of France during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between New Zealand and France at Eden Park on September 24, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
( September 23, 2011 - Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Israel Dagg claimed two tries as New Zealand romped to a comfortable 37-17 Rugby World Cup win over France at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
The All Blacks could not have asked for a better performance to celebrate captain Richie McCaw's 100th cap and they are now guaranteed to finish atop of Pool A following three-straight maximums.
Man of the match: Ma'a Nonu was sublime again at inside centre while Israel Dagg, Richie McCaw, Sam Whitelock and Jerome Kaino all put in good shifts. But it was apparent that Daniel Carter seemed to be half-a-step quicker today in both body and mind as he regularly threatened the line while putting in his team-mates on more than one occasion. It looks like he is coming into form at just the right time for New Zealand.
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Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks is tackled by Maxime Mermoz (L) and Dimitri Szarzewski
(Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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All Blacks Cup revenge dished up cold
By Gregor Paul
Having had four years to stew over things, the All Blacks exacted a clinical and soul cleansing revenge at Eden Park last night.
France were poked in the eye, jabbed with a stick then clubbed viciously with an array of weaponry they had no means to defend themselves against.
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If there was any doubt about the All Blacks' credentials, there can't be now. No one - not Ireland, Wales, South Africa, Australia or England - would have escaped from Eden Park without significant carnage having been inflicted.
They had the French scrum in disarray by the second half. They turned France, the most vaunted scrummagers in world rugby, into Australia. The French still play off emotion more than any other team and they need sparks to set them off.
"No scrum - no win" remains the motto of French rugby and they had no scrum. It wasn't just there, though, where the All Blacks were rampant. There was one occasion late in the game when Richie McCaw picked up Imanol Harinordoquy and deposited him 15m downfield. It was that kind of physicality - men against nearly men.
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The French couldn't build anything of significance. By the third phase the All Blacks had numeric advantage at the breakdown. If it wasn't Richie McCaw then it would be Jerome Kaino or Adam Thomson standing strong over a fallen Frenchman trying to wrench the ball free. There was nothing to do but hold on and concede the penalty.
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Favourites by reputation yesterday morning; the All Blacks were favourites by right last night.
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Julien Bonnaire of France lifts Richie McCaw of the All Blacks during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between New Zealand and France at Eden Park on September 24, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
( September 23, 2011 - Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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next test:
10-1
France v Tonga
Wellington
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10-2
NZ v Canada
Wellington
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