Clerc: Confident of success

France will go into the clash as the overwhelming underdogs at Eden Park, having failed to impress during the competition.

Having been given a scare or two by both Japan and Canada, France were then thrashed 37-17 by the All Blacks before losing to Tonga.

A quarter-final win papered over the cracks in the squad, before their stuttering victory over 14-man Wales in the semi-final.

As well as their on-field issues, the French players have also been troubled by clashes with their own coach Marc Lievremont as well as the media.

However Clerc, who has scored six tries in the tournament, insists France can upset the odds.

Clerc said: "Nothing is written yet... they're not world champions.

"I don't feel like a future loser, or someone who has no chance of.

"We're still in the final, and despite how we've played so far, it's Sunday that counts.

"If we're here now it's that we deserve to be here. We've said for a while now that we came here to be world champions. Maybe it hasn't been a dream run, but we're going there to win."

Clerc believes that the 2007 quarter-final victory over New Zealand - as well as their tour win in Dunedin two years later - proves why France should not be written off.

"We know that maybe we're not as good as them, but that we can unsettle them and do some exceptional things," Clerc said.

"We did this in 2007 and in Dunedin a few years ago. That's a big source of inspiration for us. I think the French teams have always been a bit less talented than the All Blacks, but still managed improbable victories.

"You have to play the game of your life to beat the All Blacks, you have to be at 100 per cent in every domain. We're going to need to be totally committed. But we also have to play intelligently and not try any old thing.

"We're all alone on the other side of the world. In Cardiff we were all alone with no French fans there. There's the same kind of feeling as 2007. We don't want to miss out on this opportunity."