France came from 13-0 down to dump favourites New Zealand out of the World Cup and complete a miserable day for the southern hemisphere. Thierry Dusautoir and Yannick Jauzion scored second-half tries to help the hosts to a thrilling 20-18 quarter-final win in Cardiff and secure a last-four clash with England in St Denis next Saturday.
Dan Carter was called on twice in the early stages to find huge clearance kicks as France tried to establish a foothold in the New Zealand 22. The game was held up after only four minutes for French flanker Serge Betsen to receive treatment after being knocked out cold trying to stop All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko.
He eventually got to his feet but needed to be helped off the field, to be replaced by Imanol Harinordoquy.
It was France who had the first scoring opportunity but Traille was off target with a 40-metre drop-goal attempt.
That gave New Zealand the chance to exert their first pressure of the match, with three-quarters Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu causing problems with their elusive running to set up the position for Carter to open the scoring on 13 minutes with a penalty from in front of the posts.
Centre Luke McAlister then twice split the French defence in quick succession as the All Blacks maintained the momentum.
Lock Ali Williams was denied by a desperate last-gasp tackle from winger Vincent Clerk but there was no stopping McAlister on 17 minutes when he took a return pass from flanker Jerry Collins to touch down for the game's first try.
Carter's conversion made it 10-0.
France's tactics were to kick deep, but the result was they had little ball to play with in their opponents' half. They had a chance to pull three points back on 24 minutes, but Beauxis was wide with an angled penalty shot from 40 metres out.
Carter, on the other hand, maintained his accuracy with a second successful penalty on the half-hour mark - this time from 45 metres - to extend his side's lead to 13-0.
France produced their best spell of the half just before the interval. But a change of marksman did little to change their fortunes, scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde putting a penalty wide.
It took them until injury time to open their account, Beauxis at last finding the target with a long-range penalty from the last kick of the half.
France looked rejuvenated by the break and harried the All Blacks into making the first handling error of the second half. Winger Cedric Heymans chased the loose ball, but the New Zealand cover got back in time to avert the danger. The French gained some reward for their more enterprising efforts, though, when Beauxis kicked a second penalty after McAlister had been sin-binned on 45 minutes for obstruction.
Even down to 14 men, the All Blacks continued to look dangerous - and only a knock-on by number eight Rodney So'oialo prevented them from capitalising on a perfect attacking position.
Carter was wide with a long-range drop-goal attempt, and New Zealand were still a man down when France drew level through flanker Thierry Dusautoir - who went past Muliaina for his third try for his country, which Beauxis converted.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry responded by withdrawing Carter, sending Nick Evans on in his place for the final quarter.
Evans immediately began to have an impact, and the All Blacks regained the lead on 62 minutes when So'lialo proved unstoppable on a tremendous surge for the line - taking giant lock Jerome Thion over with him. McAlister was unable to add the goal, however, and the miss began to look costly when France went ahead for the first time six minutes later.
An offload from Traille freed replacement fly-half Frederic Michalak, and centre Yannick Jauzion was in support to go over for his side's second try.
Elissalde's conversion edged the French in front, and they were forced to withstand a terrific late onslaught before clinging on for a famous victory - McAlister failing with an ambitious last-minute drop-goal attempt from the halfway line.
New Zealand (13) 18
Try: McAlister, So'oialo
Pens: Carter (2)
Cons: Carter
France (3) 20
Try: Dusautoir, Jauzion
Pens: Beauxis (2)
Cons: Beauxis, Elissalde
New Zealand: MacDonald, Rokocoko, Muliaina, McAlister, Sivivatu, Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Robinson, Williams, Collins, McCaw (capt), So'oialo.
Replacements: Hore, Tialata, Jack, Masoe , Leonard, Evans, Toeava.
France: Traille, Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Heymans, Beauxis, Elissalde; Milloud, Ibanez (capt), De Villiers, Pelous, Thion, Betsen, Dusautoir, Bonnaire.
Replacements: Szarzewski, Poux, Chabal, Harinordoquy, Michalak, Dominici, Poitrenaud
FRANCE v ALL BLACKS video 1/4 FINAL (20-18)
Haka France All blacks 6 Oct 2007 rugby world cup
Showing posts with label RWC07 QuaterFinals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RWC07 QuaterFinals. Show all posts
Monday, October 8, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
World Cup QuaterFinals Taking Shape
We are still a week out, and this is the time the mathematicians like to start presenting us with scenario's. As always however there's not much in the way of intrigue or unexpected results, and those hunting for quarterfinal spots have their fates very much in their own hands.
Winner B(Australia) v Runner-Up A(Tonga/England)
Winner C(New Zealand) v Runner Up D(Ireland/Argentina/France)
Winner A(South Africa) v Runner Up B(Wales/Fiji)
Winner D(Ireland/Argentina/France) v Runner Up C(Scotland/Italy)
Pool A - South Africa has this pool wrapped up, despite being given a fright by the Tongans. England and Tonga square off this week to decide who will go on to the quarterfinals. My heart begs for Tonga, but the head says England will bungle their way through to be cannonfodder for the Australians.
Pool B - Australia strolls in at the top of group B. Wales and Fiji face off for the chance to go through, though winning is almost a booby prize with a quarterfinal against the South Africans.
Pool C - As expected new Zealand was never really tested, their closest game being the weekends 40-0 beating of the Scottish. Scotland and Italy decide their own fates, and on the lack of initiative showed by both sides so far I'm expecting a 0-0 draw. Incidentally - Scotland go through on a draw due to their 2 bonus points.
Pool D - The pool of death has delivered the scenario we suspected - that the number 2 and 3 placings would be decided by the final match between Ireland and Argentina. The number one spot will almost definitely hang on that game as well. But first France play Georgia in a game called "Can we win with a bonus point". A bonus point would take them to 15 points, which is enough to make the semi finals regardless of what happens in Paris. Considering that the Georgians will be backing up from their 'final' against Namibia 4 days earlier, this should be a given. It then comes down to whether the Irish can beat the Argentinians and by how much. If they win and get a bonus point, France will finish top on 15 and Ireland and Argentina will be tied on 14. If they win without a bonus point France will finish top of the pool with 15, Argentina second on 14 and Ireland third(and eliminated) on 13. What will really get the maths geeks salivating is the prospect that France wins without a bonus point and Ireland win with one. That will leave all three teams tied on 14 points.
There are a number of ways that the winner is decided should teams be drawn on points. The first method of deciding is the head to head. In the case of all three teams being tied that would be discarded as each team has a win and a loss to the other two teams. In the case of France qualifying top and Argentina and Ireland being joint on 14 - Ireland would progress by virtue of their 1 on 1 win. The second method is points scored for and against in all pool matches. If it gets to this decider Ireland can pack their bags. They would need to defeat Argentina by 87 points to crack this one. There are four more criteria for tie-breaking after that one, but it's all academic anyway.
Ireland don't have a hope.
Quite frankly it amazes they find their way out of the dressing rooms let alone to the try line. They lack structure, passion and consistency. They show no initiative on attack nor desperation on defense. For all the home nations talk of the All Blacks peaking too early(probably true) - they need look no further than the Irish for a team who are twelve months past their peak. Their preparation has been ludicrous and their performance thus far has suffered as a result. Argentina will beat Ireland, not by much, but comfortably. They will qualify top of the pool and go the 'easy' route, probably bowing out in the semi final against South Africa, but a reasonable long shot bet to make the final(and if they make it they could win it).
That will leave the final that was anticipated since the draw was announced being rescheduled to happen two weeks earlier - France vs New Zealand - quarter final. And what a match that will be.
Victory Haka by the Samoa Rugby Team.
Brilliant All Black team try v Scotland (2005 Grand Slam Tour)
Clips from the 87, 91, 95 Rugby world cups.
Winner B(Australia) v Runner-Up A(Tonga/England)
Winner C(New Zealand) v Runner Up D(Ireland/Argentina/France)
Winner A(South Africa) v Runner Up B(Wales/Fiji)
Winner D(Ireland/Argentina/France) v Runner Up C(Scotland/Italy)
Pool A - South Africa has this pool wrapped up, despite being given a fright by the Tongans. England and Tonga square off this week to decide who will go on to the quarterfinals. My heart begs for Tonga, but the head says England will bungle their way through to be cannonfodder for the Australians.
Pool B - Australia strolls in at the top of group B. Wales and Fiji face off for the chance to go through, though winning is almost a booby prize with a quarterfinal against the South Africans.
Pool C - As expected new Zealand was never really tested, their closest game being the weekends 40-0 beating of the Scottish. Scotland and Italy decide their own fates, and on the lack of initiative showed by both sides so far I'm expecting a 0-0 draw. Incidentally - Scotland go through on a draw due to their 2 bonus points.
Pool D - The pool of death has delivered the scenario we suspected - that the number 2 and 3 placings would be decided by the final match between Ireland and Argentina. The number one spot will almost definitely hang on that game as well. But first France play Georgia in a game called "Can we win with a bonus point". A bonus point would take them to 15 points, which is enough to make the semi finals regardless of what happens in Paris. Considering that the Georgians will be backing up from their 'final' against Namibia 4 days earlier, this should be a given. It then comes down to whether the Irish can beat the Argentinians and by how much. If they win and get a bonus point, France will finish top on 15 and Ireland and Argentina will be tied on 14. If they win without a bonus point France will finish top of the pool with 15, Argentina second on 14 and Ireland third(and eliminated) on 13. What will really get the maths geeks salivating is the prospect that France wins without a bonus point and Ireland win with one. That will leave all three teams tied on 14 points.
There are a number of ways that the winner is decided should teams be drawn on points. The first method of deciding is the head to head. In the case of all three teams being tied that would be discarded as each team has a win and a loss to the other two teams. In the case of France qualifying top and Argentina and Ireland being joint on 14 - Ireland would progress by virtue of their 1 on 1 win. The second method is points scored for and against in all pool matches. If it gets to this decider Ireland can pack their bags. They would need to defeat Argentina by 87 points to crack this one. There are four more criteria for tie-breaking after that one, but it's all academic anyway.
Ireland don't have a hope.
Quite frankly it amazes they find their way out of the dressing rooms let alone to the try line. They lack structure, passion and consistency. They show no initiative on attack nor desperation on defense. For all the home nations talk of the All Blacks peaking too early(probably true) - they need look no further than the Irish for a team who are twelve months past their peak. Their preparation has been ludicrous and their performance thus far has suffered as a result. Argentina will beat Ireland, not by much, but comfortably. They will qualify top of the pool and go the 'easy' route, probably bowing out in the semi final against South Africa, but a reasonable long shot bet to make the final(and if they make it they could win it).
That will leave the final that was anticipated since the draw was announced being rescheduled to happen two weeks earlier - France vs New Zealand - quarter final. And what a match that will be.
Victory Haka by the Samoa Rugby Team.
Brilliant All Black team try v Scotland (2005 Grand Slam Tour)
Clips from the 87, 91, 95 Rugby world cups.
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