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PARIS - South Africa and France have warned that the mighty All Blacks' widely-anticipated smooth cruise towards World Cup glory could hit the rocks when the tournament gets underway in 11 days' time.
The Springboks enjoyed a 27-3 win over Scotland on Saturday while France, who have never won the game's biggest prize, made it three wins in three with a comprehensive 34-7 victory over Wales the following day.
They were performances impressive enough to suggest that Graham Henry's New Zealanders will have to win a second World Cup, to follow their triumph in the inaugural version in 1987, the hard way.
"We've done a lot of travelling this week which we had to go through to play two games in five days and we've come through it well," said Springboks coach Jake White who was under severe pressure after his team stuttered to a 18-3 win over Irish provincial side Connacht in midweek.
Boks lock forward Victor Matfield has no doubts over where his team is heading.
"I believe we can go all the way," he said.
"We know World Cups are won by great defence and against Scotland we didn't concede any tries. We feel good and the more matches we play throughout the World Cup will see our conditioning get even better."
France coach Bernard Laporte is doing his best to keep talk of a World Cup triumph on home soil in check despite adding victory in Wales to a couple of victories over defending world champions England.
Not only did France outscore Wales by four tries to one, they did so with a side showing 11 changes to the starting line-up that beat England 22-9 in Marseille.
"We don't care about talk of being favourites. The important thing is what we tell each other," said Laporte for whom the only black mark was conceding a try - to James Hook - for the first time in their three warm-ups.
"What is re-assuring is that despite the changes, the players played with the same spirit. But to win the World Cup we need to do it again from September 7 (when France play their opening match against Argentina in Paris)."
Defeat for Wales was made worse by captain Gareth Thomas having 20 stitches inserted into facial wounds although coach Gareth Jenkins insisted the injuries were not serious.
The loss meant Wales had won just four of their 16 matches under Jenkins and the Llanelli boss said France's ruthlessness had been the difference.
"We had a lot of creative effort but not the clinical edge we need to be able to score tries against sides likes France. That's something we have to grow into our game," said Jenkins.
Scotland coach Frank Hadden, whose team beat Ireland in their opening warm-up game, believes his men are still on the right track despite the defeat to the Springboks at Murrayfield.
"You're never going to be perfect going into the World Cup and you don't want to peak too soon but I'm happy with where we are in terms of the progress we've made," he said.
The Irish, who are in the same pool as France and the dangerous Argentina, have plenty of work to do after needing a last-minute try to beat Italy 23-20 in their first appearance in Belfast in 53 years.
"We were predictable and one-dimensional. We have to ask more questions of the opposition," moaned full-back Girvan Dempsey after a victory achieved without the injured Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll and David Wallace.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks, who haven't played since beating Australia 26-12 in the last match of the Tri-Nations series on July 21, have finished their preparations on home soil before heading to Europe.
Skipper Richie McCaw said the squad can't wait for the World Cup to start.
"I have to say I'm getting at this point in time sick of training. We want to get back out playing and get stuck in really," McCaw said.
Australia, meanwhile, have problems over the talented but troubled winger Lote Tuqiri who has been linked with a return to rugby league following a series of off-field indiscretions.
But Tuqiri said he intended to honour a five-year contract he signed earlier this year estimated to be worth four million dollars.
"I don't see myself going anywhere, I'm going to stick this out," he said.
Tuqiri has been hit with a midnight curfew after a late-night drinking session at his hotel in Brisbane when one of the group he was with allegedly assaulted a taxi driver.
- AFP
