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BOOTED OUT: New Zealand's Rodney So'oialo walks away in dejection, as the French celebrate a famous victory. The All Blacks' 20-year wait for a World Cup win continues. -- PHOTO: AP
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CARDIFF - EVERYONE said it could not happen again, that New Zealand could not botch yet another World Cup.
They said there would not be a repeat of 1999, when France, from nowhere and trailing by 14 points, humbled the seemingly invincible All Blacks.
But, it was deja vu at the Millennium Stadium in Wales on Saturday.
New Zealand's reputation as big-game chokers was thoroughly confirmed by the 18-20 World Cup quarter-final defeat by France, who were down 0-13 at one point.
No New Zealand side have failed to make the semi-finals in five previous tournaments.
Now, an already unbearable 20-year-wait to regain the Webb Ellis trophy will stretch to at least 24 years for the Kiwis.
Back home, there was no mercy for a team who were undefeated in Europe for five years, until the occasion it mattered most.
Former All Black Colin Meads said: 'We choke at the World Cup always, and that's just going to rear its head again, in a huge build-up to the next World Cup in four years' time.'
Rugby commentator Murray Deaker said: 'Sadly, we are a dumb rugby nation. We were a bunch of boofheads playing out there tonight against a French side that aren't that good. On the big occasions, we choke.'
There were those who decried English referee Wayne Barnes, who awarded France their winning try from a blatant forward pass by France's Frederic Michalak. 'You get an incompetent referee and that's the result,' Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.
But the man who will first pay the price, with his job, will be coach Graham Henry. His four-year, and often controversial, preparations have amounted to nothing.
New Zealand Rugby Football Union yesterday confirmed he will lose his job at the end of the year.
The 61-year-old put down the shock defeat to passion - the French had too much of it.
During the All Blacks' traditional pre-game Maori war-cry, the Haka, the French stood eyeball to eyeball with the Kiwis.
Prop Pieter de Villiers said: 'Some of the All Blacks looked away or lowered their eyes. It hurt them mentally.'
But it was New Zealand who were very close to a first try after 16 minutes, when Ali Williams put both feet into touch at the left corner as he was cover-tackled by Vincent Clerc.
Within 30 seconds of the drop-out, though, the All Blacks were in.
Luke McAlister burst into the French 22. He exchanged passes with Jerry Collins, and slid over near the posts. Dan Carter converted for a 10-0 lead.
Either side of a Carter penalty on 30 minutes, Lionel Beauxis and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde had a penalty shot at goal each, and both missed. Their kicking game was failing.
Beauxis finally nailed a penalty from 40 metres just before half-time, when New Zealand pulled down a maul: 13-3.
Still, there should not have been a way back for the French, who had been woefully out of form during the tournament.
But everything changed in the second half, when McAlister was sent to the sin-bin for a blatant body-check on Yannick Jauzion.
France's confidence grew palpably.
When Carter snapped a drop-goal off target, it was the cue for a brilliant French try on the counter-attack.
Waves of blue stretched New Zealand's 14 men, and Thierry Dusautoir rounded it off with a sharp sprint. Beauxis' conversion put France level at 13-13.
It was 1999 all over again, and the All Blacks' body language suggested that they were beginning to doubt.
Captain Richie McCaw said: 'I'm at a loss to say why we didn't put our game together. You can make a whole lot of excuses. The boys were ready to play today, but we just couldn't put it out there.'
Carter, who had been doubtful with a damaged calf, limped off, fighting back the tears. Nick Evans, his replacement, lasted only 15 minutes.
New Zealand appeared to have stemmed the tide when Rodney So'oialo, carrying a couple of Frenchmen on his back, crawled over the line. But McAlister missed the kick and it would be decisive.
With 12 minutes left, France brought on the erratic, but often brilliant, Michalak for Beauxis.
At once, he made a break.
Television showed his little pass to Jauzion went forward, but Barnes missed it. Jauzion hurdled through the last defender to score. Elissalde converted.
France led for the first time.
For the last 10 minutes, the French defence turned aside one ferocious assault after another.
And when McAlister missed with a desperate last-minute drop-goal from long range, it was all over for the All Blacks.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
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