France 12 New Zealand 39: AS RICHIE McCaw walked away from his post-match press conference, he stopped to greet an old friend in the crowd. "That," he told him, "is how you play the game." New Zealand did not just beat France, they thrashed them. It was a performance that left the Kiwis purring and filled those watching with awe and trepidation.
After the game the All Black captain was presented with the IRB’s 2009 player of the year award. He insisted that “rugby is a team sport, and an individual cannot do anything without the men around him”. It is the second time the openside flanker has received the accolade following his success in 2006.
This victory, in which the All Blacks scored five tries, was the perfect demonstration of that philosophy. They have not conceded a try this autumn and on Saturday their attacking game clicked into gear.
“This was a special day and a special game,” said their coach, Graham Henry. “There has been a lot of boring stuff played over the last couple of years, but I think this was the best attacking display by an international side for some time. To play that well under these rules is a difficult achievement.”
As good as McCaw was, New Zealand’s best player was the wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, who sliced the French open with ease. Sivivatu scored the first try and created the second, each with a sizzling burst of speed. He was all but untouchable.
The only obvious weakness in New Zealand’s performance was at the scrum, which the French dominated. Apart, that is, from the crucial moment in the 33rd minute when they were trying to defend a five-metre scrum. Neemia Tialata produced a herculean effort and the French buckled. Jerome Kaino scored and after Carter had converted it was 22-9.
In the second half a delightful chip and chase from Cory Jane and a razor-sharp run by Conrad Smith took the margin to a humiliating 27 points.
“We must be able to recognise the All Blacks’ talent,” said the France coach, Marc Lievremont, after the match. “We must be able to lose with dignity.”
Yesterday, the coach said that they cannot claim to be favourites for the 2010 Six Nations championship after the result. “We would have liked to go into the championship with three wins under our belt, more confidence and more control . . ,” Lievremont said. “This will not be the case. The All Blacks forced us to come back down to earth again and we’ll have to roll our sleeves up,” he added.
French captain Thierry Dusautoir, was a little less gracious towards New Zealand. “Myself and my team-mates, we are disappointed because we do not think the All Blacks are so very special,” he said. He should try telling that to the fans who were in the Stade Velodrome.
Guardian Service
SCORERS: France: Pens: Dupuy 3. Drop Goals: Trinh-Duc. New Zealand: Tries: Sivivatu, Muliaina, Kaino, Jane, C Smith. Cons: Carter 4. Pens: Carter 2.
FRANCE: Traille, Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Medard, Trinh-Duc, Dupuy, Barcella, Servat, Marconnet, Chabal, Millo-Chluski, Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Bonnaire. Replacements: David for Jauzion (63), Parra for Dupuy (59), Szarzewski for Servat (47), Mas for Marconnet (51), Nallet for Chabal (52), Puricelli for Ouedraogo (63). Not Used: Heymans.
NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina, Jane, C. Smith, Nonu, Sivivatu, Carter, Cowan, Woodcock, Hore, Tialata, Thorn, Donnelly, Kaino, McCaw, Read. Replacements: McAlister for Nonu (71), Donald for Carter (77), Ellis for Cowan (75), Flynn for Hore (74), Boric for Tialata (65), Franks for Thorn (65). Not Used: Latimer.
Attendance: 60,031
Referee: Alan Rolland(Ireland).
