WORLD CUP/Third and Fourth place play-off: The irrelevancy that nobody wants except those with one eye on the Rugby World Cup 2003 profit margin, and least of all the actual participants, is once again foisted upon the losing semi-finalists when New Zealand and France contest the third-fourth place play-off at the Telstra Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 8 p.m. local time, 9 a.m. Irish).
Virtually no one can be found who praises the fixture, and a host of credible alternatives have been put forward. Some, such as esteemed former coaches of sides who've contested this meaningless play-off, have mooted the idea of composite Northern-Hemisphere-Southern Hemisphere sides, or a plate final, which would keep the treasurers happy.
One of them, Nick Mallet, this week revealed that before the same encounter between his Springboks side and the All Blacks in 1999, he sent his players to Amsterdam or the south of France. "I told them I didn't want to see them again until the day before the match, when we would have a captain's run." It was to be Henry Honibal's last game for the Boks, and they decided to dedicate the match to him.
Meantime, according to Mallett, the All Blacks went on training every day, "the poor blighters". The Springboks also utilised their squad more whereas the All Blacks picked a full-strength side.
The All Blacks coach at the time, John Hart, admitted this week that, mentally, it was a very difficult game to approach and South Africa duly won 22-18 on a Millennium Stadium mudbath. In 1995, France adopted a similar policy, giving those not involved in their losing semi-final a run-out, whereas England relied on their first team, and yet France also won 19-9.
The pattern has been retained this week, with the French making 13 changes to the starting XV beaten by England, whereas the All Blacks have given all but the injured Justin Marshall a chance for redemption. The French, though, have made a better fist of talking the game up, with All Black replacement hooker Mark Hammett, representing his country for the last time, admitting the game was "pointless".
Hooker Yannick Bru will captain France with prop Sylvain Marconnet and New Zealand-born centre Tony Marsh the only two players remaining from the beaten semi-final line-up.
"It's obviously a fairly re-formed team from that of four days ago," said France manager Jo Maso. "We've taken into account the reduced recuperation time plus there are five players unavailable for various reasons."
Injuries to Olivier Milloud (neck), Imanol Harinordoquy (wrist), Serge Betsen (knee) and Christophe Dominici (knee) have ruled them out, while captain and scrumhalf Fabien Galthie, who announced his retirement from rugby after the semi-final, has had a death in his family and will fly home today. His place has been taken by Dmitri Yachvili.
When asked to comment on Marsh's selection against his native land Maso replied: "He's delighted, he's never played against the All Blacks before, it's a dream of his and it's a great reward for all the efforts he's made to get through all his various problems and to play against his native country."
Marshall is sidelined with the fractured rib he sustained after a late hit by George Smith, with Steve Devine promoted instead of Byron Kelleher, who remains on the bench. Replacement prop Kees Meeuws is also ruled out with a torn calf muscle and his place is taken on the bench is taken by Carl Hoeft.
New Zealand's greatest hour was possibly against France in the inaugural World Cup final (1987), while France's finest showing was possibly their remarkable second-half comeback from 24-10 down in the semi-finals four years ago. It's unlikely to scale those heights, but for pure entertainment, could well be more enjoyable than the final.
"We will be out to win because we have had a very positive World Cup," said Maso. "The image of the French both on and off the field has been positive and we hope that there won't be two consecutive defeats to sully the tail-end of the World Cup. This French team not only represents the XV for this match but also represents the medium and long-term future of French rugby."
NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina (Auckland); D Howlett (Auckland), L MacDonald (Canterbury), A Mauger (Canterbury), J Rokocoko (Auckland); C Spencer (Auckland), S Devine (Auckland); D Hewett (Canterbury), K Mealamu (Auckland), G Somerville (Canterbury), C Jack (Canterbury), A Williams (Auckland), R Thorne (Canterbury, capt), J Collins (Wellington), R McCaw (Canterbury). Replacements: M Hammett (Canterbury), C Hoeft (Otago), B Thorn (Canterbury), M Holah (Waikato), B Kelleher (Otago), D Carter (Canterbury), C Ralph (Canterbury).
FRANCE: C Poitrenaud (France); P Elhorga (Agen), T Marsh (Montferrand), D Traille (Pau), D Bory (Montferrand); G Merceron (Montferrand), D Yachvili (Biarritz); S Marconnet (Stade Francais), Y Bru (Toulouse, capt), JB Poux (Toulouse), D Auradou (Stade Francais), T Privat (Montferrand), P Tabacco (Stade Francais), C Labit (Toulouse), S Chabal (Bourgoin). Replacements: R Ibanez (Saracens), J-J Crenca (Agen), F Pelous (Toulouse), O Magne (Montferrand), F Michalak (Toulouse), B Liebenberg (Stade Francais), N Brusque (Biarritz).
Referee: Chris White (England).
Overall head-to-head: Played 39 times, New Zealand 28 wins, France 10 wins, 1 draw.
Biggest wins: New Zealand 54-7 (Wellington, 1999). France 22-8 (Christchurch, 1994).
Previous World Cup meetings: 1987 (final) - New Zealand 29 France 9 (Auckland). 1999 (semi-final) - France 43 New Zealand 31 (Twickenham).
Leading RWC 2003 points scorers: New Zealand - Leon McDonald 73. France - Frederic Michalak 103.
Leading RWC try scorers: New Zealand - Doug Howlett, Mils Muliaina 6 each, Joe Rokocoko 5, Caleb Ralph, Leon McDonald, Carlos Spencer 4 each.
Forecast: All Blacks to win.
Telstra Stadium, Sydney, Thursday, 9.0 a.m. Irish time
On TV: RTÉ 1, ITV
