KEY POINTS:
All Black fullback Leon MacDonald has been preparing for an evening of French strafing at Cardiff.
Even before the French team was announced, he figured the tournament hosts would send up plenty of bombs for him to defuse at the Millennium Stadium. When the side was named it revealed even more artillery launchers in Lionel Beauxis and Damien Traille.
While MacDonald said he would be putting in the extra hours training his technique to recover up and unders, he was certain France would bring all sorts of attacking methods to the sudden-death contest.
"I think they will offer a lot of running game and variety," he said. "We have not been tested in that aspect on this tour yet."
Coach Graham Henry was in charge of the defensive patterns for the All Blacks and he would bring as much detail as ever in helping the players understand what France would attempt.
There must be some questions about the ability of the All Blacks back three to stand up to a consistent French aerial assault. Wings Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko are not mega-reliable and have been uneasy on this campaign, while MacDonald is not as sure under the high ball as he used to be.
The French discovered that, all too fleetingly for them last year, in Paris but they will have noticed he has also shelled a few on this trip. Sometimes it is timing, sometimes his hands.
MacDonald has recovered from a bruised thigh after being replaced early in the 40-0 win against Scotland. He claimed he could have started last week but, like fellow fullback Mils Muliaina who tomorrow plays at centre, he was not risked against Romania.
"I had a lot of nervousness before they picked the side," MacDonald said. "There is a lot of depth at the moment and genuine challengers so I feel very fortunate to be chosen."
He would not carry any scars from the 2003 World Cup playoffs where he was asked to deputise at centre for the injured Tana Umaga. There would be some nerves but "they can paralyse you or you can feed off them".
"It depends on who you are and how you approach it. I am not bogged down by this, I am excited by it. There was nothing we could do about our poor pool opponents so we just got on with it."
The whole team, but especially the wings, would be given a licence to counter-attack.
"It is a quarter-final and we are not going to be chucking silly passes but we want to express ourselves," MacDonald said. "Both Siti and Joe have amazing rugby brains to go with their talent and skills."
Training had been smart and sharp. There was a buzz about the side, an excitement which had probably not been replicated since the opening match against Italy.
