[1] Tony Woodcock celebrates with teammates after scoring his try. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings New Zealand is leading France 5-0 at halftime of the Rugby World Cup final.
Prop Tony Woodcock scored the half's only try after 15 minutes, surging through a gaping hole in the French lineout close to the tryline, after Jerome Kaino had taken the throw and handed it off.
Worringly for the All Blacks Piri Weepu missed all three of his shots at goal, missing with two penalties and a conversion.
The All Blacks also lost first-five Aaron Cruden to a knee injury after half-an-hour, forcing the much maligned Stephen Donald onto the pitch to carry the hopes of a nation.
France had lost their first-five Morgan Parra to concussion moments earlier, but his replacement Francois Trinh-Duc threatened to bring France back into the game firstly with a missed drop kick, and then a half break inside the All Blacks half.
But both forays came to nothing, the match on a knife-edge heading into the second half.
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