Scrum of the Earth /

All-Blacks 1-1 France. Well sort of, if you care about the Olympic sailing? New Zealand boardsailor Tom Ashley dedicated his win to the All-Blacks after pipping Frenchman Julien Bontemps by one point to the gold medal.

Asked if it salvaged some compensation for New Zealand's World Cup quarter-final exit, Ashley said: "For sure that's the case."

Not even some mind games from French coach cum sports minister, Bernard Laporte, who had spoken to Ashley on the eve of the final, could prevent an extraction of revenge over silver medalist Bontemps, who is a known mad-keen rugby fan from Nantes.