The All Blacks claimed third place and buried some demons with a comprehensive six tries to one, 40-13 win over France in the playoff for third and fourth at Telstra Stadium in Sydney tonight.
France fought back to 14-13 early in the second half, but three tries in eight minutes from the 50 minute mark put New Zealand back in control at 35-13 and calmed any growing nervousness about a repeat of the 43-31 loss to the French in the 1999 RWC semi final.
On that day France came back from 24-10 early in the second half, scoring three tries in seven minutes to ruin what was supposed to be a routine All Black victory.
But France did not have the same running tonight, ending on the wrong side of the result as they did in the 29-9 loss to the All Blacks in the 1987 RWC final.
All Blacks stick to script
New Zealand played to the script tonight, proving sharper throughout with ball in hand, to reclaim some of the pride lost in the 22-10 loss to Australia in the first semi final of RWC on Saturday.
The All Blacks shared the tries around, back three Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett and Joe Rocokoko scored a try each to finish with 20 between them in the Tournament.
Lock Chris Jack stormed across for the first of the night and replacement backrowers Brad Thorn and Marty Holah got a five pointer each.
Daniel Carter – on the field to replace Leon MacDonald – kicked four conversions. MacDonald converted the first try before he was replaced.
Early France try
For France, wing Pepito Elhorga scored a try and scrum half Dmitri Yachvili added a drop goal, a conversion and a penalty.
New Zealand kicked off with a team containing just one change from the team beaten by Australia in Semi final 1 – Steve Devine at halfback for the injured Justin Marshall – the French made 13 changes by contrast, to the team beaten 24-7 by England in the second semi final on Sunday.
After an initial assault by the All Blacks, France were first to settle in to a rhythm, new scrum half Dmitri Yachvilli going within an arms length of a try on eight minutes, drawing a penalty in the tackle. Merceron missed the penalty shot.
Chris Jack got the first try a minute later, thundering on to an inside ball from that perpetual motion machine Richie McCaw, 10 metres from the French line after first Doug Howlett broke the line and interchanged passes with Leon MacDonald and Joe Rocokoko.
The second try, on 20 minutes, was a gem created by the angle Spencer went to the line, the line Howlett took back against the sliding defence and the sure hands of Mils Muliana who returned the ball to Howlett for his seventh try of the Tournament.
Spencer a menace
Fly half Carlos Spencer was a constant menace with ball in hand piloting New Zealand to a 14-6, two tries to nil half time lead. The French points in the first half came from a penalty and drop goal to Yachvili.
France were first to score in the second session, wing Pepito Elhorga taking a lovely inside ball by fellow wing David Bory after a multi phase drive deep in All Balck territory. Yachvili converted for a 14-13 All Black lead.
The French applied a rolling maul to good effect early in the second half as the All Blacks went back in to their collective shell.
A series of replacements, including the injection of former Rugby League international Brad Thorn seemed to provide a renewed energy for the All Blacks.
Spencer was again instrumental in the third try to wing Joe Rocokoko on 51 minutes.
Thorn had a try of his own two minutes later, albeit a touch controversially as Australian born half back Steve Devine collected a quick line out throw at least two metres inside the five metre line to begin the movement.
New Zealand kicked off with a team containing just one change from the team beaten 22-10 by Australia in Semi final 1 – Steve Devine at halfback for the injured Justin Marshall – the French made 13 changes by contrast, to the team beaten 24-7 by England in the second semi final on Sunday.
Gerald Merceron started at fly half in his last test match, playing 64 minutes ahead of the mercurial Frederick Michalak,