KEY POINTS:
WELLINGTON - New Zealand rugby fans on Sunday struggled to come to terms with the end of their World Cup dreams after the All Blacks suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the French.
Supporters of the tournament favourites were left stunned when the side were knocked out in a dramatic 20-18 quarterfinal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday night.
It was a case of gut-wrenching deja vu for the Kiwis with the French repeating the second-half comeback that saw them eliminate the All Blacks in the 1999 World Cup at Twickenham.
There was dejection around the country from fans who had expected an end to the 20-year drought since the All Blacks won the inaugural World Cup in 1987.
But the sad faces and shrugs of despair in the country's capital, Wellington, said it all.
About 100 staunch supporters had gathered at one of the city's most popular watering holes for the match, broadcast live on television at 8:00 am local time.
Fans puffed out their chests after a rousing haka, while enjoying a hearty breakfast at the historic Shepherd's Arms Hotel.
But the atmosphere changed as game went on, and the pub turned deathly quiet after the final whistle.
"I'm devastated, just like everybody else," said local Jim Hooper.
"But at the end of the day, the French read the game better, and put us under too much pressure," the 54-year-old said as he glumly sipped his beer.
"I'll drink to celebrate France's win, then sleep to forget the Kiwi loss."
Greg Halford, co-owner of the pub and a former captain of one of New Zealand's provincial sides, said the result would hurt business.
"People will feel empty, they'll stay at home. We've already had tables for the semi-finals cancelled," he said.
"Tomorrow (Monday) will be a retailers' nightmare in the city, and business will be down for a week or so."
Mike Copeland, a director of the Wellington Rugby Union Board, has already shelled out about 15,000 US dollars to fly to France on Monday for the rest of the tournament.
"I feel a bit dejected that the All Blacks won't be playing, but we have got a weekend at a chateau in the Loire valley to look forward to," he told AFP.
- AFP
