France lost for words after win

PARIS – France woke up on Sunday looking for the right words after their always unpredictable rugby team tamed the awe-inspiring All Blacks to advance to the World Cup semi-finals.

“Immense” screamed a headline on the front page of sports daily L’Equipe, while Le Parisien chose “Giant” and Le Journal du Dimanche “Enormous”, a popular French word for anything really special. A concert of car horns saluted the win in Paris and there were partying scenes all through the night in the French capital.Saturday’s 20-18 win against the supreme entertainers in world rugby in Cardiff revived memories of another famous win over the same opponents, in the 1999 World Cup semi-finals at Twickenham.All hail the forwards, says Robinson MARSEILLE – England’s pack of veteran forwards laid the bedrock for the team’s stunning 12-10 upset win over Australia to set up a semi-final against France, according to full-back Jason Robinson.The front-row of Andy Sheridan, Mark Regan and captain Phil Vickery destroyed their Wallaby rivals, while the back-row showed a gritty intensity at the breakdown sharply missing from England’s faltering pool games, with openside flanker Lewis Moody outstanding in the loose.The forwards were “outstanding”, said Robinson, a try-scoring member of England’s World Cup-winning team against Australia in the last of world rugby’s showpiece tournaments in 2003.Oliver, Kelleher in no man’s land CARDIFF – Two Rugby World Cups ruined by France.Retiring New Zealand hooker Anton Oliver said he felt like he was in a no man’s land.Oliver was one of two All Blacks starters scrumhalf Byron Kelleher was the other who were involved in both sensational upsets by France in the 1999 semifinals and Saturday’s quarterfinal.Oliver was a former New Zealand captain who came back from being overlooked for the 2003 cup to become one of the team’s elder statesmen, and deepest thinkers.He played for the first 59 minutes of the 20-18 loss to France, and came off in his 59th and last test at Millennium Stadium with the score at 13-13.Most International Caps 139 – George Gregan, Australia (1994-2007) 117 – Fabien Pelous, France (1995-2007) 114 – Jason Leonard, England (1990-2004) 111 – Philippe Sella, France (1982-95) 102 – Stephen Larkham, Australia (1996-2007) 101 – David Campese, Australia (1982-96).Nampa-Reuters, AP and AFPA concert of car horns saluted the win in Paris and there were partying scenes all through the night in the French capital.Saturday’s 20-18 win against the supreme entertainers in world rugby in Cardiff revived memories of another famous win over the same opponents, in the 1999 World Cup semi-finals at Twickenham.All hail the forwards, says Robinson MARSEILLE – England’s pack of veteran forwards laid the bedrock for the team’s stunning 12-10 upset win over Australia to set up a semi-final against France, according to full-back Jason Robinson.The front-row of Andy Sheridan, Mark Regan and captain Phil Vickery destroyed their Wallaby rivals, while the back-row showed a gritty intensity at the breakdown sharply missing from England’s faltering pool games, with openside flanker Lewis Moody outstanding in the loose.The forwards were “outstanding”, said Robinson, a try-scoring member of England’s World Cup-winning team against Australia in the last of world rugby’s showpiece tournaments in 2003.Oliver, Kelleher in no man’s land CARDIFF – Two Rugby World Cups ruined by France.Retiring New Zealand hooker Anton Oliver said he felt like he was in a no man’s land.Oliver was one of two All Blacks starters scrumhalf Byron Kelleher was the other who were involved in both sensational upsets by France in the 1999 semifinals and Saturday’s quarterfinal.Oliver was a former New Zealand captain who came back from being overlooked for the 2003 cup to become one of the team’s elder statesmen, and deepest thinkers.He played for the first 59 minutes of the 20-18 loss to France, and came off in his 59th and last test at Millennium Stadium with the score at 13-13. Most International Caps 139 – George Gregan, Australia (1994-2007) 117 – Fabien Pelous, France (1995-2007) 114 – Jason Leonard, England (1990-2004) 111 – Philippe Sella, France (1982-95) 102 – Stephen Larkham, Australia (1996-2007) 101 – David Campese, Australia (1982-96).Nampa-Reuters, AP and AFP