New Zealand 62 France 13 player ratings: Perfect 10 for Julian Savea as All Blacks put Les Blues to the sword
Man for man marking from New Zealand's thrashing of France at the Millennium Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.New Zealand showed exactly why critics should rule them out of retaining the Rugby World Cup at their peril as they ran in a sensational nine tries in the 62-13 demolition of France to book their place in the tournament semi-finals.
The All Blacks will meet Rugby Championship rivals South Africa in the last four after crusing past France in the quarter-finals in a display of raw aggression, incredible skill and genius bordering on the sublime in Cardiff.
Julian Savea bagged the fourth Test hat-trick of his All Blacks career to take his overall tally to 38 tries in 39 matches - one more than All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu - while Brodie Retallick, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Jerome Kaino also touched down before the break.
The rout continued in the second half, as replacement Tawera Kerr-Barlow scored twice along with one from Kieran Read, and all France had to show from their efforts were a first-half Louis Picamoles try added to by a long-range Scott Spedding penalty and two place kicks from Morgan Parra.
So how did the players perform? Click on the gallery below to find out.
Who do you think was the star man on the Millennium Stadium pitch? Leave your thoughts in the comment box below.
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