KEY POINTS:
CARDIFF - France captain Raphael Ibanez said his side had "played the half of our lives" after coming from behind to beat tournament favourites New Zealand 20-18 in their World Cup quarter-final here at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
France turned round 13-3 down at the break but rallied thanks to second-half tries from Thierry Dusautoir and Yannick Jauzion as they created an upset every bit as big as their 1999 World Cup semi-final defeat of the All Blacks.
"The first half was a non-stop battle," said hooker Ibanez, who added plain speaking at the break from coach Bernard Laporte had set the team straight.
"At half-time we talked well. Bernard told us what reality was. At 13-3 down we had to play most the important 40 minutes of our lives. I'm glad we met the coaches' expectations."
Victory for France ended a run of seven straight defeats against New Zealand and saw them atone for a 17-12 opening match defeat at the hands of Argentina - a result that ultimately meant they had to play the quarter-final in Cardiff rather than on home soil.
But they showed their determination to remain undaunted by standing just inches away from their opponents as New Zealand performed the haka.
"We weren't trying to indulge in provocation but by nailing our flags to the mast we wanted to show how proud we were of our colours," said Ibanez.
France were playing in their home blue shirts but with white shorts so as to avoid a colour clash with New Zealand, who having lost the toss, were obliged to play in their change strip of grey.
But Ibanez said the match had been about something more profound than kit choices. "Whatever the jersey the All Blacks were wearing they are still great players. They could have played in pink, it wouldn't have made any difference. "What makes the difference is what's inside you and that was the difference tonight. We played with a lot of heart.
"Every time you play New Zealand you must play out of your skin. That's a pre-requisite. In the first half we were hanging on like madmen to stem wave after wave of attacks."
Laporte, who next month is set to become a sports minister in the French government, added: Discipline, defence and the ability to seize opportunities, these were the difference."
Beaten All Black coach Graham Henry said France had been the better side on the night. "We haven't played as well as we have done, the French played particularly well, especially defensively.
"They took their opportunities and the better side won," he said.
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw added: "In the first half got lulled into playing a bit of aerial ping-pong.
"At half-time said we needed to score first, didn't do that, had a guy in bin (Luke McAlister) and then the French lifted. I guess if I knew the answers we'd have sorted it out on field."
Assistant coach Steve Hansen said the pain fans were feeling was as nothing to that of the players. "The disappointment people feel, well the people in the shed back there are feeling 10,000 times worse. Some guys have played their last game for the All Blacks and they are hurting"
France now face a semi-final in Paris next Saturday against old rivals and reigning world champions England, who earlier in the day inflicted another blow to southern hemisphere pride by beating Australia.
"Everyone's been saying all week it (the semi-finals) would be like the Tri-Nations," said Ibanez, who plays his club rugby for London Wasps. "I'm really pleased to see France and England in semi-final."
- AFP
