All Blacks on rampage

By WYNNE GRAY

The All Blacks made their final exit last night with a 40-13 success against France and the tournament bronze medal.

The prize did not match the team-of-the-year honour bestowed on them this week by their global opponents.

But they showed a 62,712 crowd some of the flair which won them that accolade, while the French were subdued and ill-disciplined.

For those All Blacks retiring or unwanted next season - and Leon MacDonald who is going overseas - victory was the only way to end this year, a season in which they played 14 tests with blips only against England and the Wallabies.

Flanker Richie McCaw was supreme again, the forwards showed some of the clout they needed last week, and Carlos Spencer had a glut of ball and time which allowed him to be a big threat.

The six-tries-to-one success was small reward at this tournament, but the only acceptable response after the comprehensive semifinal defeat against the Wallabies.

Coach John Mitchell had given that entire losing group, except injured halfback Justin Marshall, the opportunity for redemption, while French coach Bernard Laporte went the alternative selection route.

He agreed to Tony Marsh's request to play against his former countrymen (in a neat touch, the centre led his side on to Telstra Stadium), retained prop Sylvain Marconnet, and selected 13 new players around them.

It was the contest which had been touted for a firecracker final, the All Blacks against France, sides with arguably the most attacking intentions in the tournament.

However, it became the test neither side wanted nor had prepared for.

So which coach had the right selection recipe? Could the same group of dejected All Blacks pick themselves up in their last game of the season, or would the fresh spirit of France carry them through?

The All Blacks had won all but 10 of the 38 meetings between the two countries, but France had earned a reputation as great highwaymen, a team capable of Bastille Day brilliance in 1979, a series win in 1994, and a World Cup semifinal victory four years ago.

For the opening 10 minutes there was a hint of another upset.

France were denied tries when a cruel bounce eluded two French chasers, and then the All Blacks infringed rather than yield a try from a five-metre scrum.

But from those frights, the All Blacks regrouped and played with some enterprise in contrast to some unusual French conservatism.

A beautiful Carlos Spencer in-pass started a move which ended 65 metres later with lock Chris Jack thundering across the line.

Fullback Mils Muliaina then sparked a second try when he split the defence and linked with winger Doug Howlett.

After that first quarter the scoring then stalled as the mistake rate rose.

The French stung the All Blacks when they scored in the first minute after the break, wing Pepito Elhorga beating a tired defence.

In response, coach Mitchell sent on forward reserves Marty Holah and Brad Thorn to join Daniel Carter, who had replaced an injured MacDonald in the opening half.

The momentum returned, the All Blacks punished France on the counter-attack.

Joe Rokocoko scored his 17th try in a remarkable debut season, Thorn scored from a quick lineout throw, and the All Blacks had stemmed the World Cup bleeding.

Replacement flanker Marty Holah was driven over for the All Blacks' final try seven minutes from the end. He was the 20th All Black to cross the tryline at this tournament.

They ended this year with three test point-scoring world records.

Their 12th test win is more than any other team has achieved in a calendar year, while their total of 602 points beats their own previous record of 584, set in 1995.

Rokocoko's try lifted his season tally to 17, a record by any player in a calendar year.

He crossed six times at the tournament, one less than Howlett and Muliaina. That pair are likely to finish as the leading tryscorers on seven, unless there are some heroics in tomorrow's final between Australia and England.

The tournament record is eight by All Black winger Jonah Lomu in 1999.

It was a disappointing night for MacDonald, who was replaced in the 18th minute in his last test before beginning a two-year club contract for a Japanese club.

After the match, Thorne said: "The team had picked itself up from a pretty shattering experience against the Wallabies.

"We didn't get what we wanted and we're pretty heartbroken about that, [but] the guys have all grown and had a good journey."

Spencer added: "We can hold our heads high. We had one hiccup and that cost us big time. The guys have had a wonderful season. We've got to look at the big picture."

All Blacks 40 (C. Jack, D. Howlett, J. Rokocoko, B. Thorn, M. Muliaina, M. Holah, tries; L. MacDonald con, D. Carter 4 con)

France 13 (P. Elhorga, try; D. Yachvili con, pen, dropped goal.

Halftime: 14-6.

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