Awesome All Blacks run riot
By Mark Kendall
Last Updated: 01/01/70 1:00am
New Zealand ran in seven tries as they humiliated France 47-3 in their own back-yard.
International Test match, France v New Zealand, Saturday November 11
New Zealand put on another master-class on Saturday night, running in seven tries as they crushed France 47-3 in their own back-yard.
Fresh from their record win over England at Twickenham last weekend, Graham Henry's men were even more impressive as they ripped apart Les Bleus in Lyon - inflicting France's worst home defeat in 100 years.
The hosts had no answer to their opponent's clinical rugby as they were picked off time and again by an All Black machine that is looking increasing unstoppable ahead of next year's World Cup.
It took the visitors just five minutes to open the scoring; having set up a decent platform inside the French 22, the ball was spun wide with Jerry Collins releasing Sitiveni Sivivatu who burst through weak tackles from Aurelien Rougerie and Julien Bonnaire to touch down out wide.
Somewhat surprisingly Dan Carter missed with the conversion, but the peerless outside half soon demonstrated his precision with the boot as he slotted a long-range penalty on 11 minutes after the hosts had been penalised for going in at the side of a ruck.
The hosts dragged themselves back into the game when Florian Fritz hoisted over an audacious drop-goal, but skipper Fabien Pelous did little to help their cause on 24 minutes as he was sin-binned for hauling down the airborne Rodney So'oialo at a line-out with Carter kicking the resulting penalty.
France did subsequently hold out until their captain's return, but the All Blacks all but killed the game with two tries just before the interval.
Firstly skipper Richie McCaw powered over from close range after the French had carelessly lost a line-out near their own line, then - with the same player having set up another attack with a powerful break - Carter eased over after Piri Weepu had chosen to go blind with options on either side of him.
Carter converted his own try to ensure his side went in 23-3 in front at the break with France already appearing a beaten side.
In fairness to the hosts they did come out for the second period in determined fashion, but, just as they had at Twickenham, New Zealand absorbed pressure and then struck on the counter with ruthless efficiency.
On 47 minutes, with France camped near the All Black line, McCaw forced a fumble which was seized upon by Ali Williams. The second-rower fed Conrad Smith who gleefully streaked the length of the pitch to score under the posts allowing Carter a simple conversion.
Again the French came, but having failed to penetrate they were made to pay as Luke McAlister effortlessly broke from midfield and offloaded to Rokocoko yards from the line allowing the winger to crash over.
As mean in defence as they were clinical in attack, the tourists ensured France did not breach their back-line and then proceeded to demonstrate the difference in cutting edge that had proved so all so evident throughout the match with two tries in the final five minutes.
Despite having been starved of possession, they pounced on a mistake from full-back Julien Laharrague on his own 22 and, with devastating pace and power, spun the ball wide through several pairs of hands with Sivivatu romping over in the corner.
Still they were not finished and McAlister put the gloss on an awesome display as he was on Sivivatu's shoulder following yet another surge from midfield, coasting over unopposed with the French simply left exchanging disbelieving looks.
