Zimpapers Logo

AUCKLAND. — New Zealand media yesterday said the All Blacks were desperate to atone for their darkest hour when they meet France in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in Cardiff this weekend. The clash is at the Millennium Stadium venue where France staged a stunning upset to dump the over-confident New Zealanders in the quarters of the 2007 tournament.

The 20-18 loss is still raw for many Kiwis, particularly since the French also eliminated the All Blacks from the 1999 World Cup. New Zealand want to “exterminate the ghosts of 2007” Fairfax Media’s Liam Napier wrote, while New Zealand Herald rugby writer Patrick McKendry asked: “It’s France – could it be any other nation?”

“The All Blacks will once again face their World Cup nemesis in a quarter-final in Cardiff, eight years after their nightmare exit at the same stage in the same stadium at the hands of the Tricolours,” he added.

While the All Blacks narrowly beat France in the 2011 final, TV3’s David Di Somma said the opportunity to exact retribution on Les Bleus in the Welsh capital was a “dream scenario”.

“It’s the replay, it’s what everyone wants to see, although I know some people are going to dread it,” he said.

“I think this All Blacks team, deep down, they want to repay what happened in ‘07.” – AFP.