The All Blacks of New Zealand suffered one of the darkest hours in their illustrious rugby history at the hands of France, who pulled off arguably the greatest upset in Rugby World Cup history eight years ago. Eight years later, the two will once again meet in the last eight at the Millennium Stadium, the site of France’s great triumph.
Will the French once again foil the favorites’ march to the title? Read on below for our preview of this quarterfinal clash. Meanwhile, don’t forget to check out our previews of the other three quarterfinal matchups: Wales vs. South Africa, Australia vs. Scotland and Argentina vs. Ireland.
New Zealand came into this year’s tournament as the big powerhouse that was expected to blow the relatively weak Pool C completely out of the water. That wasn’t exactly what happened, though.
[sc:Other240banner ]Despite winning all four games with a +125 point differential, the All Blacks hardly looked like the all-conquering defending champions that many were anticipating as they failed to cover the spread in any of those for Tests.
They looked so underwhelming that hardly a single All Black made the best XV teams (as voted by the British press) during the pool stage. However, don’t worry too much about the All Blacks, who are still installed as the +120 favorite to successfully defend their world title.
New Zealand was always going to go through an easy Pool C without much fuss, and likely made the decision not to exert too much energy in blowing out their overmatched opposition.
While it’s always a bit of a risk betting on a team to “turn it on,” this All Blacks team that features the likes of Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Brodie Retallick and Aaron, Conrad and Ben Smith, who all know what it takes to win at this stage.
The All Blacks will know all too well not to underestimate this France team, and will be desperate to avoid any repeats of the 2007. New Zealand has won the last eight meetings with France, and is 42-12-1 in 55 meetings all-time against Les Bleus.
France had a chance to get a much easier quarterfinal matchup if it could defeat and Ireland in its last Pool D Test. Instead, the French were thrashed, 24-9, even as the Irish suffered a bunch of key injuries in the game.
It was a very poor performance from the French, whose impressive 32-10 win over Italy in the first game of the tournament feels like a long time ago.
Despite missing out on the more favorable matchup with Argentina, France probably won’t mind being the rank underdog against the world champions New Zealand. The French can call on the memory of 2007, when they shocked the world and ousted the mighty All Blacks from the tournament.
Thierry Dusautoir was instrumental in leading the French to that remarkable come-from-behind win, as he made 38 tackles – more than the entire New Zealand team combined – and scored the tying try. While he might not be capable of such heroics anymore, the 33-year-old captain will still be influential in instilling belief and confidence in the underdog French team.
Writer’s Prediction
There’s no repeat of 2007. The All Blacks (-10.5) finally go full effort as they blow out France, 35-10.
