Rugby World Cup
Fully fit All Blacks relish French exam
AAP
October 12, 2015
World Cup Quarter Finals Preview

The All Blacks are fully fit, have their numbers replenished and are enthusiastic about entering the knockout phase of the Rugby World Cup.

All 31 players in the New Zealand squad trained fully under sunny skies at their Swansea base ahead of Saturday's quarter-final against France in Cardiff.

Prop Joe Moody had arrived earlier in the day following a flight from Christchurch and the man who is the tournament replacement for injured veteran Tony Woodcock took a full part.

Alongside were captain Richie McCaw (thigh) and prop Charlie Faumuina (hamstring), who missed the final pool win over Tonga with niggles.

Assistant coach Ian Foster says there is a tangible sense of excitement at playing sudden death rugby following four pool matches in which the defending champions were unconvincing for periods.

"Quite frankly, we can't wait, this is what finals rugby is all about isn't it?" Foster said. "We prepare every week to play a team at their best and we're expecting them to be as excited and as hungry as we are."

© Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Foster dismissed suggestions France - who have dropped to seventh in the world rankings - are at a low ebb and should be beaten if the All Blacks hit their straps. He says the French deserve New Zealand's respect for their World Cup record alone, having reached three finals.

Their performance in the 24-9 pool loss to Ireland on Sunday was also better than many critics are saying, Foster believes.

Saint-André: Ireland deserved to win
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"France were very, very physical and they defended very strongly and made a good Ireland team work really really hard to break them down.

"They play with plenty of passion, they're very, very physical men and certainly deserve the right to be there."

Foster expects French supporters to out-number those from New Zealand and the All Blacks will discuss closer to kick-off how to handle what is expected to be a deafening atmosphere.

"Sometimes when you get into big occasions like this, it's easy to let the emotion and everything take over and you miss some detail.

"We're working hard to, I guess, not suppress it, but to control those feelings of excitement."

© AAP

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