New Zealand (13) 18
Try: McAlister, So'oialo
Pens: Carter (2)
Cons: Carter
France (3) 20
Try: Dusautoir, Jauzion
Pens: Beauxis (2)
Cons: Beauxis, Elissalde
France set up a World Cup semi-final with England after a stunning win over hot favourites New Zealand in Cardiff.
The All Blacks dominated the first half but only had Luke McAlister's try to show for it, with Lionel Beauxis's penalty being France's lone score.
McAlister was sin-binned after the restart and Thierry Dusautoir took advantage to score and level the score.
Rodney So'oialo's try restored the New Zealand lead before Yannick Jauzion's try which turned out to be the winner.
France's pre-match intentions were made clear by their unblinking staring-down of the haka, but the early loss of Serge Betsen, knocked out cold in a fourth-minute ruck, disrupted their plans.
Dan Carter's early penalty put New Zealand ahead and when McAlister ran straight at and through the French defensive line, it looked like a try was sure to follow.
But an expertly timed tackle by Vincent Clerc forced Ali Williams's feet into touch as he went over in the corner and saved his team going further behind.
That McAlister cameo showed just what a threat he was, though, and it was not long before that threat was converted into points.
Carter's expertly-timed pass sent McAlister through the defence once again, and he swapped passes with Jerry Collins to fly over the line for the opening try.
Another Carter penalty extended the lead as France failed to match their pre-match theatrics with any positive action.
They did not attempt a running attack out of defence in the first half-hour, and only had one Beauxis penalty on the board at the break.
But the game turned just after the restart, when McAlister was sin-binned for deliberate obstruction on Jauzion as he chased Beauxis's kick-through.
This prompted France's backs finally to spring into life as a meaningful attacking force, and their reward came when Dusautoir found a way through on the right to touch down behind the posts.
So'oialo slid under several challenges to claim New Zealand's second try and restore the lead, but the introduction of Frederic Michalak had instant effect as France promptly went ahead for the first time.
Damien Traille fed Michalak, who added a burst of speed, twisted in a tackle and off-loaded to Jauzion to touch down.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde's conversion put France on top and as the pressure on New Zealand grew, so did France's confidence.
Inspiring comparisons with their legendary 1999 semi-final win over the All Blacks, they refused to let anyone or anything get past them, and held on for a legendary win.
New Zealand's failure to reach the semi-final for the first time means this is the least successful World Cup campaign in their history.
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New Zealand: MacDonald, Rokocoko, Muliaina, McAlister, Sivivatu, Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Robinson, Williams, Collins, McCaw (capt), So'oialo.
Replacements: Hore, Tialata, Jack, Masoe , Leonard, Evans, Toeava.
France: Traille, Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Heymans, Beauxis, Elissalde; Milloud, Ibanez (capt), De Villiers, Pelous, Thion, Betsen, Dusautoir, Bonnaire.
Replacements: Szarzewski, Poux, Chabal, Harinordoquy, Michalak, Dominici, Poitrenaud
