All Blacks revenge dished up cold

Ma'a Nonu knows only one way to the tryline, here straight through the French defence. Photo / Janna Dixon

New Zealand 37 France17

Having had four years to stew over things, the All Blacks exacted a clinical and soul cleansing revenge at Eden Park last night in their crucial Rugby World Cup clash.

France were poked in the eye, jabbed with a stick then clubbed viciously with an array of weaponry they had no means to defend themselves against.

Anyone who uses the scoreline as vindication the French were up to no good with a half-hearted selection and an equally lacking attitude really needs to dunk their head in boiling chip fat.

France came to win; they came to gain some belief and confidence after a faltering start to this World Cup.

The French wanted to top the pool because the lame ducks are lining up on the side of the draw victory would send them.

Argentina or Scotland in the quarter-final and an aging Springboks or a Wallaby side full of ladies who like to lunch; they'd be mad if they didn't want to head down that road and avoid the foaming Celts or the joyless but relentless English.

To think anything less of France's noble intentions would fail to grasp the explosive power and accuracy of the All Blacks' performance. The All Blacks found that next level they were after. They had the look of a side that felt it was about time they made a statement; that they created a more obvious pecking order than has emerged so far in this tournament.

If there was any doubt about the All Blacks' credentials, there can't be now. No one - not Ireland, Wales, South Africa, Australia or England - would have escaped from Eden Park without significant carnage having been inflicted.

They had the French scrum in disarray by the second half. They turned France, the most vaunted scrummagers in world rugby, into Australia. The French still play off emotion more than any other team and they need sparks to set them off.

"No scrum - no win" remains the motto of French rugby and they had no scrum. It wasn't just there, though, where the All Blacks were rampant. There was one occasion late in the game when Richie McCaw picked up Imanol Harinordoquy and deposited him 15m downfield. It was that kind of physicality - men against nearly men.

The French couldn't build anything of significance. By the third phase the All Blacks had numeric advantage at the breakdown. If it wasn't Richie McCaw then it would be Jerome Kaino or Adam Thomson standing strong over a fallen Frenchman trying to wrench the ball free. There was nothing to do but hold on and concede the penalty.

Seeing Dan Carter boom it into touch was light relief as the alternative was to see Carter ignite his backline that was full of a new and cunning set of tricks.

As always Ma'a Nonu provided the bulk of the direct, attacking thrust. In modern rugby all the talk is of go-forward - that's what Nonu does regardless of who tries to get in his way.

The rapier came from Carter. He played with his head up again and that calm authority that his team-mates thrive on. His passing had that easy rhythm that lets everyone know he's in the zone - ready to play and have a bit of fun. He made an electric break to set up Israel Dagg's first try where he dummied and disappeared.

Carter even dropped a goal for no particular reason other to show that he could. Gutted by his efforts at the last World Cup, he chose the right night to play such a big game. Dagg, Richard Kahui, Cory Jane and Sonny Bill Williams (when he came late in the first half) all fed off Carter's energy and enterprise.

It wasn't so much about individuals, though. It was about the collective pace and power. The final try of the game was the best example of what the French were facing - this beautifully organised, dynamic machine that was slick and clever.

Favourites by reputation yesterday morning; the All Blacks were favourites by right last night.

New Zealand 37 (A.. Thomson, C. Jane, I. Dagg 2, S. Williams tries; D. Carter 3 cons, pen, DG)

France 17 (M. Mermoz, F. Trinh-Duc tries; M. Parra 2 cons, pen)