French fans were brought to tears as the All Blacks supporters leaped for joy in Auckland's Viaduct bars this morning.
The large contingent of French supporters at The Fox sports bar began the game full of voice, screaming "Allez les bleus" with gusto as their men took the field.
Fans in face paint and draped with tricolores showed more passion than their team's players as they urged the team on.
But as the second half ended and the All Blacks had widened the divide on the scoreboard the mood from the French fans was more subdued.
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Advertise with NZME.All Blacks fans, hoarse from the celebrations, were ecstatic when Kieran Read scored the seventh try of the game for the New Zealanders.
It was the last straw for one French fan, Marine Veyriras, whose tears streaked through her blue, white and red face paint.
She left the bar momentarily before some friends pulled her back in.
Veyriras said the emotion overflowed because she loves the game so much.
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Advertise with NZME."The game it was horrible," she said.
"I was so sad, but it's because I love rugby so much."
Veyriras plays rugby in her home country and was dressed in black pants and half black face paint to show while she loves France, she also loves the All Blacks.
"The All Blacks are the best team, now I just want the All Blacks to win."
Veyriras said she will be back watching the semi-final all dressed in black.
"I will go home and cry in my bed, and two hours later I will be okay," she said.
Augustin Beth, a "rugby specialist" according to friends, said until the 34th minute the French supporters believed they could win.
"I believed in our victory, but after seeing out coach, we see the difference [in the teams].
"I am not sad because it is normal to lose to the All Blacks."
He said lots of French fans would still have a good morning in Auckland.
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Advertise with NZME."It is good to share our rugby passion with New Zealanders."
There were plenty of beers being pulled in The Fox, but flat whites and big breakfasts were also coming out of the kitchen non-stop.