All Blacks thrash France - 37/17

AUCKLAND, Sept 24, (AFP) - The All Blacks scored five tries for a convincing bonus point 37-17 victory over World Cup nemesis France to give their skipper Richie McCaw a winning 100th Test on Saturday.

New Zealand gave the full house 60,800 Eden Park crowd what they wanted with a dominant display to justify their tournament favouritism and take a five-point lead in Pool A with one game left in the group stage.

The All Blacks controlled all but the opening 10 minutes to part-exorcise the demons of their stunning quarter-final exit to the French at the 2007 World Cup.

New Zealand, champing to deliver a Webb Ellis Cup to their rugby-obsessed homeland for the first time since 1987, made a powerful statement that they are the team to beat.

It was also a fitting reward for McCaw, the warrior openside flanker described by coach Graham Henry as "an inspiration to New Zealanders" who became the first All Black to play a century of Tests for his country.

"It was a good game for us, we played pretty well and it did show some deficiencies in odd parts of the game," Henry said.

"It was a larger step up in the quality of opposition and that's going to produce some extra pressures and I think we can learn from that." Fullback Israel Dagg, who kept 98-Test Mils Muliaina out of the New Zealand lineup, was named man-of-the-match with a try double.

But Dagg was one of four injured All Blacks from the match. The fullback suffered a bruised thigh as did winger Richard Kahui, while number eight Adam Thomson rolled an ankle and winner Cory Jane took a head knock.

"We realised we had to take a step this week against the French. Obviously from history we knew this would be a good team," McCaw said.

"We had to absorb a fair bit early on, but I was proud of the way the boys did that, and then when we got our opportunity we put points on the board. In big Test matches that's what you've got to do." France have proved a World Cup nemesis for the All Blacks dumping them out of the last World Cup and also winning their 1999 semi-final at Twickenham.

New Zealand, the world's top-ranked team since 2004, beat France to win the inaugural World Cup at Eden Park in 1987.

Les Bleus have now only won twice at the All Black citadel in nine encounters, the last coming 17 years ago and they now face a likely quarter-final against either Argentina or Scotland.

France began the stronger with new fly-half Morgan Parra composed in attack, and Les Bleus dominated the opening 10 minutes before the All Blacks scored from their first attack.

Centre Ma'a Nonu beat three tackles in a powerful run before Thomson scored from the next ruck after quick hands from Dan Carter.

The All Blacks were in again seven minutes later when Piri Weepu's clever inside ball put Jane into the clear and he beat off a weak tackle from Maxime Medard to put his side 12-0 ahead.

Carter stepped through and sent Dagg racing over as the All Blacks took control with a 19-0 advantage after 21 minutes.

"We were in the match but we suffered from basic errors and we let them lead too quickly, but the players were very brave as it was tough for us," France coach Marc Lievremont said.

Sonny Bill Williams came on for Jane before scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili kicked France's first points with a penalty just before halftime.