Game 4 - France v Japan - North Harbour Stadium - 10 September 2011

PRE MATCH

The North Half a Stadium awaits New Zealand's recent nemesis France, where they are playing Japan.

I would like Japan to give the French what for. Partly because Japan's coach is the great John Kirwan. His try against Italy in the inaugral World Cup match is burned into the memory of everyone who watched it. He has even made depression sexy, we love JK so. Also because the French have made a recent habit of raining on the All Black's parade and, in general, we've all had a guts-full of them.

But I'm going to have to concede that it probably ain't gonna happen.

I'm pleased to hear the not so dulcet tones of an Australian commentator in Sky's coverage. I am fond of Aussie pundits - they are more colourful than us Kiwis.

Megan is napping on the couch as we await kick off.

HALF TIME REPORT

Another cracker game. The French have looked lethal in the backs and would have demoralised many an opposition. But the minnows have stuck to their game plan and have managed a minor fightback and scored a try of their own. Watching Coach Kirwan's ebullient reaction to their try was a real treat.

The halftime score of 25-11 is a fair reflection of the run of play.

The All Blacks will have to play both of these teams, and I'm not sure they would be happy to concede a try to the Japanese.

Referee Steve Walsh Jnr looks like he needs a stiff drink.

Megan can scarcely believe that I intend to watch 48 whole Rugby matches. She's given up on me but not in an unsupportive way. She has gone to the kitchen to cook meatloaf. The smells are tantalising. She came through to high-5 me when Japan scored though.

FULL TIME REPORT

The second half began as expected with heavy-duty French pressure on the Brave Blossoms tryline. They were held up twice in goal in the first 5 minutes of the half. But then astonishingly the Japanese fought back to dominate the middle 20 minutes of the half. At one stage they took the score to 24-21.

At this point the crowd were going absolutely ballistic, making more noise than a North Harbour crowd has ever generated in support of its own rugby team. A fairy tale beckoned, until an enormous unit named Lionel Nallet put the game beyond the Japanese grasp. In doing so he answered the riddle of what has happened to caveman Sebastein Chabal... patently Nallet ate him.

In the last ten minutes the game blew out to a very flattering 47-21 victory to the French, but they will be  as unhappy with their performance as the All Blacks were 21 hours earlier.

I thought this was the best match of the tournament so far, and the try count is through the roof. 29 tries from 4 games, if this theme continues through to the knockout rounds, this may well be remembered as the finest tournament ever.

Final Score 47-21

4 games 29 tries

Tweet of the match- "Akai! Sakura! Go go go!" @dritchie