Ten magnificent moments: NewZealand vFrance

ALLBLACKS.COM     18 OCT 2015     GETTY IMAGES

The intensity went up several notches as the All Blacks recorded the biggest ever Rugby World Cup knockout phase victory with a sublime 62-13 drubbing of France in Cardiff.

It was clear from the outset the All Blacks were intent on burying any Millennium Stadium demons and booking a semi-final showdown with South Africa at Twickenham. Ruthless and clinical across the park, the rampant All Blacks crossed for nine tries against a shell-shocked French side. Check out ten magnificent moments from #NZLvFRA

Brilliant Brodie

With the score locked up at 3-3, Brodie Retallick broke the early deadlock by charging down a Fredrick Michalak clearing kick. With no one in front, the towering lock gathered the bounce to run in for the first try. In a double blow for France, Michalak left the field with a hamstring injury to leave France without their key pivot.

Hurricanes combine
In a moment reminiscent of the Hurricanes blazing Super Rugby form, Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu united in midfield to draw three French defenders and put Nehe Milner-Skudder into space. From there it was a magical finish for the Manawatu speedster as he effortlessly stepped a French defender and ran away for his fifth Rugby World Cup try.

Carter creates
Dan Carter unleashed his bag of tricks as the All Blacks swung onto attack in the 28th minute. Running onto the ball at speed, Carter dummied and fended his way through a half gap before flicking a reverse pass to Julian Savea to coast in for the All Blacks third try.

Shades of Lomu

In a try that started with a piece of acrobatic brilliance from Ben Smith to regain a high ball, Savea was unleashed at pace down the side line. With three defenders between Savea and the try line, the giant wing bumped off all three in a try that brought back memories of Jonah Lomu’s blockbusting form at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The try also brought up New Zealand’s 300th Rugby World Cup try.

Stretching the defence
With inspirational number eight Louis Picamoles off the field for a yellow card infringement, the All Blacks were clinical and patient in stretching the French defence from side to side before Jerome Kaino went over in the corner to extend the lead to 34-13 in the 49th minute.

Savea equals record
Dane Coles stymied a period of sustained French attack by ripping the ball loose from a French runner. Dan Carter was quick to pounce on the loose ball and shift to Savea who contrasted his previous bulldozing try with one that was all about pure pace. It was Savea’s third try in the match and eighth at the tournament – equalling the record of Bryan Habana and Jonah Lomu for eight tries at a World Cup.

Fabulous Faumuina
With the score at 41-13 in the 65th minute, replacement prop Charlie Faumuina encapsulated the All Blacks dynamic game plan by bursting through a gap and offloading perfectly to Kieran Read to run in the All Blacks seventh try. Dan Carter added the extras to extend the lead to an imposing 48-13.

Offload heaven

The All Blacks brought up 50 points courtesy of two spectacular off loads from Sonny Bill Williams and Ma’a Nonu. First in on the action was SBW with a trademark off load to Nonu who repeated the dose for replacement halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow to score under the posts.

TKB double
With the All Blacks piercing the line at will, replacement prop Joe Moody found a gap and produced the off load of the game to Kerr-Barlow. The Chiefs halfback ran in his second try after just seven minutes on the field. In doing so he became the first ever replacement player to score two tries in a World Cup knockout match.

Almost Nonu

Just like he had done for his 100th test against Tonga, Ma’a Nonu produced another master performance and left his best play for the end. With time almost up on the clock, Nonu spied a gap and put the foot down. Showing incredible pace, Nonu dived for the line only to have the ball knocked free from his hands by the cover defence.

Force of Black