Sun, 29 Nov 2009 6:25p.m.
By Dave Goosselink
The All Blacks' emphatic 39-12 win over the French in Marseille has been welcomed as long overdue by fans in New Zealand.
Some watched the match with other supporters in sports bars across the country, calling it the best rugby game of the year.
It was a great end to a test season which has disappointed so many.
In bars across New Zealand, fans turned out this morning to watch a white-shirted All Blacks team triumph in the French rugby stronghold of Marseille.
One supporter relished the thrashing.
“The All Blacks came there and smashed them against, it's like getting Chabal and thrashing him with a French stick and pouring red wine over him and walking off!”
In Wellington, fans were delighted to see the return of the All Blacks of old, after a lacklustre year.
“I think this is a fabulous sign for the All Blacks, I think this is certainly the best performance I've seen all year,” said fan Barbara Clarke.
In Auckland, fans saw the emphatic victory over the All Blacks' world cup nemesis as a good sign for 2011.
But one French supporter insisted the result today was just typical French foxing and part of a cunning long term strategy.
“We make you believe that you are going to win the world cup so we keep our, you know, advantage,” she said.
The All Blacks have one final hit-out for the year, against the Barbarians next week in London.
But today's performance will be a tough act to follow.
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