SC IMAGES: "Oooh Aaah Umaga"

Saturday, 26 June 1999, 6:32 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

The last international rugby test to be held at Wellington's Athletic Park today proved a memorable one for local heroes Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen who scored three tries and two respectively.

The touring French side was thoroughly outclassed by the All Blacks who beat France by the all-time record scoreline of 54-7.

The All Blacks scored seven tries to France's one, and Andrew Mehrtens kicked a brace of penalties and conversions in spite of a 76kmh howling southerly. Justin Marshall was the final try scorer in the All Blacks picking up two.

In recent years the record between New Zealand and France has been far from one-sided with the French winning three of the last four tests.

While there were several outstanding performances from All Blacks in the match, honours today undisputably belong to Tana Umaga.

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http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9906/french.jpg - a French player on a rare burst

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9906/marshall.jpg - Justin Marshall on his way to a second try

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9906/stomping.jpg - Darryl Gibson (bottom right) gets a earful of boot, Frenchman Crenca was sent off for this incident

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9906/tana_closeup.jpg - Tana resting after his first try

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9906/tana_scoring.jpg - and again

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9906/tana_scoring2.jpg - and again

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9906/tana_tackling.jpg - Tana is everywhere stopping a certain try

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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