MARSEILLE, France: France has its flair and confidence back just in time to face New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.

The French ran in nine tries to thrash Georgia 64-7 on Sunday and qualify second to Pool D winner Argentina, which beat Ireland 30-15 to avoid what coach Marcelo Loffreda called a black shadow.

The way France is playing, however, a New Zealand win isn't a formality at Cardiff this Saturday.

“If we want to be the world champions, we have to beat everybody,” France coach Bernard Laporte said. “I am not convinced that the All Blacks are very happy to be against us.”

Since losing its opening match 17-12 to Argentina, France has scored 24 tries in three outings.

Or put another way, the kind of tally the All Blacks normally chalk up.

Laporte, who was under intense pressure following the Argentina defeat, seems to have restored the battered morale.

“Since our failure against Argentina, our team has played three good games,” he said. “Those who played showed they are challenging and want to be involved. They played a complete match which puts them in line for the quarterfinals.”

Christophe Dominici, treated by some sections of the French media as a pariah after the Argentina game, grabbed two tries against Georgia to set a French record of eight tries at World Cups. He totals 25 tries in 64 internationals.

Dominici's return to form won't please the All Blacks. He was one of three Tricolores remaining from the 43-31 win over New Zealand in the 1999 World Cup semifinals.

That day, Dominici and Christophe Lamaison rallied France in one of rugby's greatest comebacks.

The others are captain Raphael Ibanez and lock Fabien Pelous.

“In 1999, we were in the same state of mind as we are now,” Pelous said. “It's always the same when you play the All Blacks. You are never favorite and you have to create an upset. We will have to go flat out and rely on instinct.”

France was crushed 40-13 at the following World Cup by New Zealand in a third-place match.

“If we're talking about cycles, we can say that in 1999 we won and in 2003 we lost,” Pelous said. “So, we'll win in 2007. They (New Zealand) lose one match out of 20. Maybe it will be this one.

“We will have to play the perfect tactical match. If we do that, we can cause them problems.”

Flyhalf Lionel Beauxis was the pick of the French players against Georgia. He kicked for 19 points, including a penalty from inside his half, and added a try. His crosskick set up Dominici's second try, causing Laporte to stray from his team mantra and compliment the 21-year-old.

“Beauxis showed what a great kicking game he has,” Laporte said.

Laporte suggested he may tinker with his lineup to accommodate Beauxis against New Zealand, and give France two tactical kickers to peg back the All Blacks.

“Between him and (center) Damien (Traille) we have two kickers of international standard,” Laporte said. “Playing the two together is a possible solution.”

However, Laporte may not be so quick to experiment this time.

He picked Cedric Heymans at fullback instead of Clement Poitrenaud against Argentina, and it backfired spectacularly.

On Sunday, Poitrenaud got the first of France's tries when he collected a simple pass from center Yannick Jauzion, who'd cut a hole in Georgia's defense with a deft change of direction.

Yannick Nyanga, Remy Martin, Lionel Nallet, Sebastien Bruno and Julien Bonnaire also crossed, giving the forwards a 5-4 edge over the backs in tries.

Georgia had little rest from its midweek match against Namibia — France had eight days off after beating Ireland — and coach Malkhaz Cheishvili fielded some fringe players in order to give everyone a game.

Fringe players will be put aside this weekend by a France team which retains grand designs.

“Our aim is to go right to the end,” France winger Vincent Clerc said. “We don't function in relation to our environment but in accordance with the ambitions we've set ourselves. Whatever the quarterfinal is, we have to win it.”