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CARDIFF - France's trials and tribulations at this rugby World Cup compared to the All Blacks' comparative armchair ride has given the tournament hosts reason to believe on the eve of Sunday's quarterfinal here.
Coach Bernard Laporte, who may well be in his last week of an eight-year reign, said his side had bonded closer than he could remember in the month since their shock 12-17 loss to Argentina in the first match of the tournament.
For several weeks the French media and public rounded on he and the players, even as their play improved in wins over Namibia (87-10), Ireland (25-3) and Georgia (64-7).
"We all pulled together after the Argentina match and grew stronger out of it," Laporte said through an interpreter.
"Moreover we knew it would only get more difficult, playing New Zealand. I sense a great motivation, a great determination amongst the players."
Laporte said his team's goal to win the tournament remained undiminished and that a match against the All Blacks was always going to be involved. It had just arrived two weeks early.
"The way I look at it, it's the same as having to play Australia in the quarterfinals."
The French have spent plenty of time in the video analysis room this week.
Laporte showed his men replays of last November's losses to New Zealand in Lyon (47-3) and Paris (23-11), along with the All Blacks' loss to the Wallabies.
It appears to have worked for veteran flanker Serge Betsen, who agreed when a reporter asked if they would take a "war-like spirit" into the test.
"If we don't have that, we might as well stay at home. We have to build the match battles stone by stone," Betsen said.
"We should be ready to play the best match we have ever played."
Betsen's chief tasks will be to slow down New Zealand ball at the breakdown and apply pressure on first five-eighth Daniel Carter, assuming he recovers in time from a calf strain.
Prop Olivier Milloud, who made a notable difference to the French scrum when introduced for last year's Paris test, wanted an even better scrummaging effort this weekend.
"I wasn't up to scratch but we studied the videos and how we should take them. The last time we were not very stable and had our wrists slapped," Milloud said.
"We are well prepared and the match will be determined in the physical battles. Against Argentina we put a lot of things in order and we were good in the up front battles so we will try to do the same in this match."
Centre David Marty referred to France's 43-31 defeat of the All Blacks in the 1999 semifinal at Twickenham as reason for confidence.
On that occasion France reacted well to being away from the claustrophobic interest levels at home.
"Maybe it's better to play in Cardiff, without the pressure from our supporters and the press," Marty said.
"Maybe it's better for everybody to be far away. We're here and we can try something historic, and yes, we remember '99."
- NZPA
