No. | Name | |
---|---|---|
15Ben Smith, - | ||
14Nehe Milner-Skudder, - | ||
13Conrad Smith, - | ||
12Ma'a Nonu, - | ||
11Julian Savea, - 3 | ||
10Dan Carter, - 7 | ||
9Aaron Smith, - | ||
1Wyatt Crockett, - | ||
2Dane Coles, - | ||
3Owen Franks, - | ||
4Brodie Retallick, - | ||
5Sam Whitelock, - | ||
6Jerome Kaino, - | ||
7Richie McCaw, - | ||
8Kieran Read, - | ||
Replacements | ||
16Keven Mealamu, - | ||
17Joe Moody, - | ||
18Charlie Faumuina, - | ||
19Victor Vito, - | ||
20Sam Cane, - | ||
21Tawera Kerr-Barlow, - 2 | ||
22Beauden Barrett, - | ||
23Sonny Bill Williams, - |
*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold
Match Commentary
ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say:
"We expected a New Zealand bloodbath against Namibia, Tonga and maybe Georgia in the pool stages but certainly not against France in this World Cup quarterfinal. Finally, the All Blacks have shown why they are favoured to become the first nation to retain the Webb Ellis trophy. This wasn't just a destruction, it was a brutal obliteration of Philippe Saint-Andre's side in front of a shellshocked Millennium Stadium. After Picamoles was binned for a closed fist on McCaw, the floodgates well and truly opened. Savea notched another World Cup hat trick while replacement Kerr-Barlow made the French backline look like a bunch of Ken Barlow's. 2007 is but a distant memory for both of these sides and Steve Hansen will no doubt be licking his lips at this performance. "
Keven Mealamu scores. France completely unraveled here. Joe Moody's 'out the back' offload finds the try scorer who has little to do except put it on the floor.
Sonny Bill Williams heavily involved in that one as Nonu finds the eventual scorer Tawera Kerr-Barlow who guides home under the sticks.
France have just folded here. Charlie Faumuina breaks the line and combines with Kieran Read to set up the try not far from the French uprights.
Savea! Down the flank again, another great try from a superb player. France just do not know what to do with him. All Blacks pump the ball well along their line and find Savea out on the very edge.
And there we have it! It doesn't matter that Ben Smith couldn't get the extra try as Kaino does it for him down the left! Some nice passing to find the No.6 along the flank who then drives home for another five points. All Blacks ripping the French apart.
ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say:
"The pace was as electric as the atmosphere inside the roof of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Ma'a Nonu broke the line twice in as many minutes with a couple of scintillating runs as the All Blacks enjoyed a largely comfortable first 40. Aside from an unbelievable 53m penalty from Scott Spedding and a late try from Louis Picamoles, the French had little to cheer about: Frederic Michalak's injury was salt in the wounds after Retallick charged him down to break clear and score, before Milner-Skudder added a brilliant second try courtesy of some fancy footwork. Another two from Julien Savea, the first superbly set up by the talismanic Carter, gives the defending champions a commanding halftime lead. With the French fans heading early to the bar, the ghosts of 2007 look set to be laid to rest. "
Savea. Stunning finish. Stunning try.
Fantastic take from Ben Smith in the air before a sumptuous long pass from Aaron Smith sets up Retallick who finds Savea. Outstanding finish from the winger who literally pushes Wesley Fofana, Alexandre Dumoulin and Noa Nakaitaci out the way one by one.
Wow! Picamoles try! Off to the TMO...
Picamoles picks up the bouncing ball after Bernard le Roux - the intended pass receiver - fortunately fumbled in front of him. Anyone else and that wouldn't be a try. Needed the strength from Picamole to bundle that over as New Zealand tacklers jumped onto his back.
NEW ZEALAND TRY!
This could be messy here. Quick ball from NZ and France failing to challenge at the breakdown. Great offload from Carter to Savea who navigates his way to five points.
MILNER-SKUDDER! Superb individual try. He just made something very difficult look very easy. Fantastic sidestep to fool probably four French defenders, breaks the line and drives home.
Retallick charges the kick down and has a simple 20 metre run to the try line. Michalak's kick seems to has injured himself, too. Early sub it seems already!
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Follow our men on the ground, Tom Hamilton (@tomESPNscrum) and Rob Bartlett (@RobBartlettESPN), for their first hand insights straight from Cardiff.
France XV: S Spedding, B Dulin, W Fofana, A Dumoulin, N Nakaitaci, F Michalak, M Parra; B Le Roux, L Picamoles, T Dusautoir, Y Maestri, P Pape, R Slimani, G Guirado, E Ben Arous.
New Zealand XV: Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read.
Also see...
- South Africa's earlier win
- Ford and Gray bans over turned ahead of Scotland's game