ALL BLACKS THRASH FRENCH:

FRANCE 3 NEW ZEALAND 47:


France (3) 3
Drop goal: Fritz


New Zealand (23) 47
Tries: Sivivatu 2, McCaw, Carter, Smith, Rokocoko, McAlister
Cons: Carter 3
Pen: Carter 2

New Zealand underlined their status as favourites for the 2007 World Cup with a dazzling seven-try display away to tournament hosts France.

Tries from Sitiveni Sivivatu, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter helped the All Blacks into a 23-3 lead at half-time.

They ran in tries from Conrad Smith and Joe Rokocoko early in the second half.

And further efforts from Sivivatu, with his second, and Luke McAlister rounded off an awesome performance as France managed only a Florian Fritz drop goal.

Sivivatu produced a sizzling step off his left foot to beat Aurelien Rougerie and power over for the opening score after five minutes.

Carter missed the conversion but soon landed a penalty to put the visitors 8-0 ahead.

France finally got on the scoreboard through Fritz after 21 minutes but Carter's boot edged the All Blacks further ahead before they ran in two tries to take total control.

Captain McCaw got the first when he powered over from close range and Carter went over unopposed on the stroke of half-time as New Zealand really turned the screw.

Things went from bad to worse for France four minutes after the break when a rare home attack broke down and Smith raced 70 metres to score under the posts.

Carter's conversion made it 30-3 and he was on target again after Rokocoko finished off another searing New Zealand attack.

The All Blacks eased off a little in the final 20 minutes but they still had the last word as Sivivatu and McAlister went over in the left-hand corner to finish off a brace of flowing attacks.

FRANCE:
Laharrague; Rougerie, Fritz, Jauzion, Dominici; Traille, Yachvili; Marconnet, Szarzewski, De Villiers, Pelous, Pape, Dussautoir, Bonnaire, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Ibanez, Milloud, Nallet, Martin, Elissalde, Marty, Heymans.

NEW ZEALAND:
MacDonald; Rokocoko, Smith, McAlister, Sivivatu; Carter, Weepu; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Ryan, Williams, Collins, McCaw, So'oialo.
Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, Eaton, Masoe, Kelleher, Nonu, Muliaina.