RWC: All Blacks bury French ghosts

The All Blacks steadied the nerves of a nation with an emphatic 37-17 win over France at Eden Park on today to secure a place in the World Cup quarter-finals as Pool A winners with a game to spare.



Haunted by the memories of premature exits at the hands of the French in the 1999 and 2007 tournaments, the New Zealanders had been jittery all week at the prospect of facing the Europeans.

But tries from Adam Thomson, Cory Jane, Sonny Bill Williams and two from fullback Israel Dagg as well as 12 points from the boot of Dan Carter allowed them to bury the ghosts of past World Cup failures for the group stage at least.

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