Rugby: Win in New Zealand still ultimate challenge

French captain Thierry Dusautoir trains at Carisbrook yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
French captain Thierry Dusautoir trains at Carisbrook yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Playing and beating the All Blacks was still the ultimate challenge for a French player, captain Thierry Dusautoir said yesterday.

Dusautoir, who played in the French win over the All Blacks in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, said the All Blacks were seen as something of a mythical team in France.

"Beating the All Blacks would be the highlight of my career, especially in New Zealand, where very few French teams have done that," he said through an interpreter.

Dusautoir, a loose forward, said he only knew a little about the All Black loose forward trio, including Otago's Adam Thomson, but if they played in Super 14, they would have to be good.

He said Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo had played more than 40 games together and this would be the new trio's first run together, but he still held them in high regard.

He was eager to get on the field.

"We are very impatient. We have been here for 10 days now and would like to start the game as soon as possible."

French coach Marc Lievremont, also speaking through an interpreter, said the team had decided to base itself in Auckland as the players came out in different groups and wanted to stay in one place until everyone arrived.

But he did concede the vagaries of Dunedin's weather had played a part in the side not arriving in the city until lunchtime on Thursday.

"We were told the weather was very, very bad. But yesterday [Thursday] showed that is not always true. We went round the peninsula, and we almost regretted not coming earlier," Lievremont said.

Lievremont was not reading much into the loss of players from the All Blacks, saying countries from the northern hemisphere always struggled to make an impact when travelling south.

"There are some unknowns for both teams with many players away. But for the All Blacks it will about how quickly they come together.

"But we have to think about ourselves as well. We have a few players missing and our nine and 10 are playing the first time together."

"I think I'm more concerned about the performance of our team than thinking about the All Blacks."

He said it was difficult for his side to blend smoothly after arriving at different times, due to the finish of the French Top 14 competition.

The team had tired midweek but was all right now, he said.

France had played a conservative style under former coach Bernard Laporte.

Lievremont said the side was trying to change the structure but it would take a while.

"The diversity of French rugby makes it hard to find common ground but there is a strong will to play enterprising and attacking rugby."

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