SIR CLIVE WOODWARD, the 2003 World Cup-winning coach, considers New Zealand’s quarter-final demolition of France last night to be one of the finest rugby performances he has witnessed.
The All Blacks scored nine tries as they outclassed the French to win 62-13 at Cardiff’s Millennium stadium.
Woodward described New Zealand’s first-half display — they led 29-13 at the half-time interval — as “one of the most outstanding displays of rugby at this World Cup”. He added: “As far as the All Blacks are concerned, it was a real privilege to be here tonight. That was just special. I’ve seen some great All Black teams over the years but that was amazing. The selection of the All Blacks’ 31 was spot-on. And we are seeing all the benefits of that now. It didn’t matter who got the ball, their handling was amazing.”
At the final whistle, only 10 of the 31-man France squad stayed to salute their fans and their head coach, Philippe Saint-Andre, was booed relentlessly when he was interviewed pitch-side.
“They are booing the coach, which is really sad to see,” said Woodward. “I don’t think that performance reflects [the strength of] French rugby. That’s what the fans will be disappointed with.
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“I feel very sorry for Saint-Andre. It has been a poor four years for him. You have 10 players walking around the pitch, they are obviously not one team. The whole squad should be walking around there. There are a of lot fault lines in that squad.”
Asked about that negative reaction from the French supporters, Saint-Andre replied: “Of course they are disappointed. I think we did the maximum, we tried and today New Zealand were much better than us. We worked hard for the last three months to be in this World Cup but each time we made a mistake, we were punished. When the result is like this you have nothing to say and just congratulate New Zealand.”
Steve Hansen’s team have been installed as the 4-5 favourites by the bookmakers to lift the Webb Ellis Cup at Twickenham on Halloween. Referring to France’s famous 2007 quarter-final victory over New Zealand in Cardiff, Hansen said “we have now got a wee monkey off our back”.
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, whose side face South Africa in the semi-finals at Twickenham on Saturday, said: “We won’t be getting ahead of ourselves because there’s nothing South Africa like more than to hear how well one of their opponents have done ahead of playing them. The intensity was always going to go up a notch. I’m just proud of the guys.”