OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Sunday 7.00pm.
FRANCE staged an amazing comeback to stun tournament favourites New Zealand 43-31 in the second World Cup semi-final at Twickenham on Sunday and earn a final date with Australia.
The Springboks now face the All Blacks on Thursday in the play-off for third.
France trailed by 14 points early in the second half after a pair of tries for New Zealand by giant wing Jonah Lomu – only for fly-half Christophe Lamaison to spark a remarkable revival that left the All Blacks first stunned, then down and out of a tournament they had believed themselves destined to win.
The awesome Lamaison scored a try and kicked three penalties, four conversions and a pair of drop goals in a flawless display, while wing Christophe Dominici, centre Richard Dourthe and wing Philippe Bernat-Salles scored second-half tries for the French, who played with the flair and purpose that had eluded them over the past 18 months.
The French left the field to a standing ovation after scoring more points against the All Blacks than any other side has ever managed in a test.
France will now play the Wallabies, who beat defending champions South Africa 27-21 just 24 hours earlier, in Saturday’s final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The All Blacks found their pace and passion matched by the fire and ferocity of the French, whose willingness to take the ball forward revealed the New Zealanders as less than the supermen they had been built up as ahead of the game.
“We just made too many mistakes,” said New Zealand coach John Hart. “The French capitalised.”
MARCUS PRIOR’S report: France stun New Zealand in Cup upset