Thrillers

Springboks, All Blacks to fight for third place

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Posted: Sunday October 31, 1999 05:57 PM

Australia's Tim Horan looks to pass the ball off as he is tackled by a South African defender. AP

By Leora Blumberg, CNN/SI

ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- The semifinals of the Rugby World Cup are over, and without question this weekend's play must qualify as some of the most suspenseful and historic. France upset powerhouse New Zealand, and Australia defeated South Africa as the two countries battled into extra time for spots in the finals.

France answered its country's chants of "Allez Les Bleus" (Come on, France) against New Zealand by shocking the All Blacks 43-31 at Twickenham on Sunday in the biggest upset in World Cup history.

The Kiwis were heavy favorites to beat the only European team left in the championship, especially after France lost to the All Blacks by a record 54-7 only four months ago. But Andrew Mehrtens, the All Blacks flyhalf, said Friday, "They're predictably unpredictable." Sunday he was proved correct.

Trailing at the interval 24-10, France, led by Christophe Lamaison, thundered back onto the field to dominate every aspect of the game and outscore New Zealand with three tries and seven accurate kicks in the second half.

Australia, generally rated as the No. 2 team in the world, qualified without much surprise. But Saturday afternoon's match although entertaining was too much of kicking contest to be regarded as classic rugby.

Australia got its revenge on South Africa with the 27-21 victory, thereby ending the defending world champions' unbeaten World Cup streak of 10 games and their hopes of defending their title. The Springboks began their run of World Cup wins in the opening game of the 1995 World Cup against the Wallabies

In the final moments of regular time, last week's golden boy, Springbok Jannie de Beer, kicked a penalty to send the game into extra time.

However, the man of the day proved to be Australia's Stephen Larkham, who with a 48-meter drop goal, his first in international rugby, helped propel Australia through to the finals of the World Cup.

South Africa will no doubt be feeling the sting twice over, after drawing its Cricket World Cup match against Australia, which resulted in elimination.

Although Larkam's contribution to the Australian team was inspiring, my choice for man of the weekend is Lamaison, who with 28 of his team's 43 points, including several key drop goals, was the pivotal player in the game.

The quote of the weekend will have to go to former All Black Grant Fox< who said, "We go into mourning now for four years," following New Zealand's shock loss to France on Sunday.

 

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