Thorne: Anyone who writes off Aussies is a fool

NEW ZEALAND captain Reuben Thorne refuses to buy into the relentless media attacks on the All Blacks’ semi-final opponents, declaring: “Anyone who writes off Australia is a fool.”

The spectre of New Zealand's shock World Cup semi-final defeat to France in 1999 still hangs heavy over Thorne, and he is determined there will be no repeat.

Four years ago, France struggled through the pool stages and New Zealand made the fatal mistake of casting half an eye forward to a place in the final.