New Zealand Mourns World Cup Defeat

New Zealand is mourning today after the shock defeat by France in the quarter final of the Rugby World Cup, in Cardiff this morning.

Heavily favoured going into the game the New Zealanders again failed to produce thier 'A game' when it mattered the most. They were out passioned by the spirited French side and despite having a huge possesion and territory advantage, they could not turn that advantage into points.

There will be those that lay the blame with the inexperienced English referee, who made it must be said made some 'interesting' decisions and seemed very lenient on the French around the rucks and mauls. The All Blacks simply did not dominant the game sufficiently to put it out of reach of the French, something they should have been able to do after being up by 13 - 3 at half time.

Sadly the team will now no doubt have to endure more 'choker' tags from a dissappointed public. Not since 1987 has New Zealand won the World Cup and for a country which lives and breaths this sport this Cup has become an obsession, one which now must be full filled when New Zealand hosts the next Cup in 2011.

The public will be looking for scape goats and we will be left wondering how this team, which was touted as the best prepared All Black team of any to visit the World Cup, could be exiting the tournament at such an early stage.