Miracle in Cardiff - France create biggest shock in Rugby World Cup history

World Cup / Editor / 07 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Les Bleus turn Betfair's World Cup markets on their heads with a 20-18 victory over the All Blacks

Statisticians and Betfair historians (if there are any!!) will look back on this game and wonder how New Zealand - massive favourites to win their first World Cup since 1987 - ever lost it.

The match stats simply don't tell the tale. The All Blacks had 71% of the possession and 63% of the territory, they only had to make 36 tackles all game, compared to the French count of 178! They didn't lose a scrum or lineout, they only had one miss at the posts, and yet they sit in their hotel rooms this morning contemplating a 20-18 defeat.

At kick-off, New Zealand were an expected 1.18 having drubbed the French by big margins in their two most recent encounters. When Luke McAlister's try put the ABs into a 13-0 lead they were backed at 1.02 while France - who only had a single penalty to show for their first-half effort - drifted out to 50.

After so many failures at previous World Cups, this New Zealand team was said to be 'choke-proof'. But, just as they famously downed the ABs in 1999, the French clawed their way back into the match - not once but twice - and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde's conversion of Yannick Jauzion's 68th minute try proved to be the winning score.

Once again it proves the point that there is no such thing as a sure thing - as those Betfair punters who got on France at 50 will no doubt be happy to remind you.

South Africa now head the overall winners market - the Boks are trading at around the 2.1 mark - France still look good value at 3, while Saturday's other surprise package England are third favourites to retain their title.