Oliver rises above the mud-slinging

New Zealand stalwart Anton Oliver underlined his status as one of rugby’s true gentlemen by extending an olive branch to the beleaguered French tourists in the wake of Saturday’s encounter in Wellington.

The veteran hooker said he felt compelled to apologise for the public mud-slinging that marred the two-Test series and sought out France’s Thomas Castaignede for a quiet chat following New Zealand’s 61-10 win at Westpac Stadium.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry had accused France of negativity in the first Test, insinuating that the tourists had feigned injury and deliberately collapse scrums.

Castaignede was one of several French players who repsponding by saying that Henry had shown a “lack of respect”, and France coach Bernard Laporte also delivered some personal barbs the way of his All Blacks counterpart.

But Oliver was determined to reassert the true spirit of rugby on proceedings by expressing his regret to his former Barbarians colleague.

“I just apologised to him for some of the stuff that was said earlier in the week and hoped the goodwill of rugby could push past that,” Oliver told the NZPA.

“It was just a bit of gamesmanship. I asked Thomas not to take any of it to heart as he had come out firing.”

A unique aspect of last night’s post-Test presentations was that both teams mingled together to be photographed with the Dave Gallaher Trophy.

It was prompted by Oliver who, after getting clearance from New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, motioned the opposition over.

“Even though we all wear logos and it’s a lot of money and all the rest of it, we’re still sports-people and there’s got to be sportsmanship,” said Oliver.

“If that goes then we’re really in trouble.”