France draw swords for NZ clash

Philippe Saint-Andre did not go as far as declare war on New Zealand but the passionate French coach insiste their World Cup quarter-final battle was a lot more than just Les Bleus against the All Blacks. 

It's country against country, he said Monday putting national pride on the line as France licked their wounds after a torrid match against Ireland that consigned them to play New Zealand in their first knockout game. 

France and New Zealand have a lot of World Cup history and some dark memories to be cleansed 

Twice France have made the final and twice lost to the All Blacks. 

The All Blacks worst World Cup performance was when beaten by France in the 2007 quarter-finals. In 1999 they lost to France in the semis. 

"We won't play the All Blacks on Saturday, we will play New Zealand," Saint-Andre said. 

"We are in a World Cup. We represent France, they represent New Zealand. It will be a hugely intense match." 

All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter acknowledged that while the players did not dwell on the 2007 defeat it remained for New Zealanders their worst day in World Cup history. 

France believe they were very unlucky in the final four years ago when they started as underdogs, faced a flood of second-half penalties, yet only lost 8-7. 

Saint-Andre sees the odds stacked against them again, but points to the French reputation for being the All Blacks World Cup nemesis.

"The history of the World Cup says anything can happen in the quarter-finals. We are not favourites. We know this. But to be honest, when you are French, I think it is not good when you are favourite," he said. 

"We have to believe in ourselves, to rise up and with our heads held high against a team which is the favourite for the title. We have 80 minutes to bring the mountain tumbling down."

After the 2007 boil-over, in which Thierry Dusautoir made an astonishing 38 tackles, France backed up the next time they met with a 27-22 victory two years later in New Zealand. 

But it has been one-way traffic in New Zealand's favour when they have played and won eight Tests against France.

They have also been building steadily with an unbeaten run through pool play in this World Cup while France, just as they did in 2011, did not look champion material. 

Against Ireland they were beaten up front and lacked the flair in the backs that was the French trademark for many decades. 

But Saint-Andre said the 24-9 loss to Ireland was already behind them and he warned New Zealand not to read too much into that match. 

"We are entering a new competition. We will prepare for it with pride, enthusiasm, and an enormous appetite for this quarter-final," he said.

"We're not out of the tournament, we are not dead. We have to pick ourselves up and prepare ourselves mentally. 

"It is for certain we will have to unleash the horses on Saturday. We can't have any regrets."

AFP