The pain of losing in a Rugby World Cup is well understood in the All Blacks camp.
Captain Richie McCaw, Tony Woodcock, Kevin Mealamu, Ali Williams and Andrew Hore know what France is capable of in a World Cup.
They are the men with the most painful memories of that loss at Cardiff in 2007, but the rest of the Rugby World cup squad also feel that pain.
They have heard the speeches and done the hard yards to make this campaign far stronger.
McCaw knows the job’s not done and whatever France produced on Saturday night can be ignored as it will start again on Sunday at 9pm and the pool game, the semi final, the quarter final of 2007, the final of 1987 none of that matters.
It is for his troops to continue their quest to emulate their 1987 predecessors in the global record book.
For, France coach Marc Lievremont can just point to the record books and say they have achieved what 18 other sides have been unable to.
They have made it to the final of Rugby World Cup 2011 they have survived to compete for the title.
They have overcome long periods of reflection and public ridicule and made it to the last two.
He said his players have a lot of respect for New Zealand but it will not stop them from giving their best shot.
The All Blacks will play France on Sunday at 9pm in the RWC final and you can catch the live commentary on our sister station Viti-FM with Mala Veisamasama and Ilivasi Tabua.
At 7.30pm Friday, the Wallabies play Wales in the bronze playoff.
Story by: Dreu Vukailagi
All Blacks seek to relieve good times against France
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