Sports After Dark

France have shocked the rugby world by dumping the tournament favourites out of the 2007 Rugby World Cup by 20-18 in Cardiff.

Just like in 1999 it was a game the All Blacks were expected to win easily, and just like in 1999 France put on an unexpected performance to achieve the upset of the tournament.

A tries to Tierry Dusautoir and solid goal kicking from Lionel Beauxis kept France close throughout the game before replacement Frederick Michalak set up Yannick Jauzion for the game winning try in the 70th minute. The conversion to Jean-Baptiste Elissade put France up by two points and desperate defense kept that lead for the remaining 10 minutes.

The All Blacks put in their worst outing of the 2007 season, dropping passes that stuck earlier in the year and never really threatening to break the French line. Centre Luke McAlister played a brilliant game, threatening whenever he had the ball in hand but had little punch around him.

France started off the game in the worst possible way, losing big-hitting flanker Serge Betsen after he was knocked out while trying to tackle Joe Rokocoko in the fifth minute. His replacement, Imanol Harinnordoquy, played a fantastic game in his place and was a big reason for the French triumph.

Although the All Blacks played badly and did not deserve to win the game, the worst performance of the night came from referee Wayne Barnes. The sin binning of Luke McAlister was comical and perhaps cost the All Blacks the match, and somehow all three officials missed an obvious forward pass leading up to Jauzion’s try.

McAlister was shown a yellow card in the 46th minute for taking out a French player who was chasing a kick. Replays, and in fact even at full speed, showed McAlister turning to chase the kick and having Jauzion run into his back.

The All Blacks poured on the pressure in the final 10 minutes, at one stage holding the ball for over 30 phases, but were let down by knock-ons and poor options as the team’s game plan was abandoned in favour of individuals trying to create something from nothing.

France now move on to the semi finals where they will face England next weekend, while the All Blacks head home after yet another failed campaign. This loss will spell the end of coach Graham Henry as well as a number of senior players such as Chris Jack and Carl Hayman, while fans back home will have another four years to wait for a chance at the Webb Ellis cup.

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The France shock All Blacks in Cardiff boil over by Hamish McBrearty, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.