Former All Black winger Jonah Lomu said on Sunday he had a feeling things would not go right for New Zealand in their World cup quarter-final against France.

The French upset the tournament favourites 20-18 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday to set up a semi-final with defending champions England.

"Was I surprised, no. I was more uneased about this game than any other," Lomu said in a brief interview with Reuters at the Stade de France.

"The semi-finals and everything else would take care of themselves," he said between television commitments at the quarter-final between Argentina and Scotland.

"The French play the All Blacks better outside of Paris."

Lomu said there was little point in analysing the reasons for the favourites' defeat.

"I think everyone's going to try to pick at it, to find a reason. We just got beaten," said Lomu, who helped New Zealand reach the final in South Africa in 1995 which they lost to the Springboks.

"I put it purely down to we got out-passioned by the French," he added.

"They were more clinical with their chances."

New Zealand, regularly ranked number one in the world, have been chasing a second World Cup victory since winning the inaugural tournament at home in 1987.

Reuters