Revenge not on All Blacks’ minds
Defeat to France at the same stadium eight years ago hasn’t been discussed
NEW ZEALAND flyhalf Dan Carter is expecting France to play out of their skin in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff on Saturday.
Carter and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw are the only survivors from the team stunned 20-18 by the French in the 2007 World Cup lasteight clash at the Millennium Stadium.
“They love playing the All Blacks in big matches and I know they will perform out of their skin. It’s about us turning up,” Carter said yesterday.
“It didn’t really matter who we played. The main focus for us was to reach the quarter-final and finish on top of the pool. We did that and we knew potentially we would come up against Ireland or France.”
The mercurial flyhalf revealed there has been no discussion in the All Black camp about revenge. “It’s not something we have talked about, it’s more for the public and the press,” Carter said.
“It’s a new team and I think there are only three players left in this team from that team. We are not looking in the past.
“It is not daunting us. It’s just an exciting challenge at a stadium where we love to play.”
New Zealand have beaten France in their last eight meetings, with the last French win coming in 2009 in Dunedin.
“We have played so much rugby since then and the French will probably say the same,” Carter said.
“It was eight years ago and we have moved on from there with a new team who have been through a lot together. It’s all about looking forward.
“But they are a dangerous side and these are the challenges we love, so the guys will be up for it.”
France eased through their first three games in the tournament before producing a lacklustre performance to lose 24-9 to Ireland.
“The thing is they are very unpredictable,” Carter said.
“Form and momentum doesn’t count for much with the French. They can be poor one week and awesome the next.”
Carter insisted the New Zealanders will try to enjoy the occasion. “They (the younger players) are going to be put under a lot of pressure so I think the key to that is embracing it,” Carter said. “We need to use the challenge as something that really excites us. In these games it’s all about who copes best with the pressure.”
France spluttered through the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand before giving the All Blacks an almighty scare in the final in Auckland, which the hosts won 8-7. “That’s one of their strengths. They can just flick a switch and turn it on,” Carter said.