Sour aftertaste for enigmatic French
The end of the World Cup has turned sour for beaten finalists France after they were fined for breaching protocols and police were called to an incident involving players and photographers.
There were also accusations All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was eye-gouged during Sunday night’s final which New Zealand won 8-7.
A witness said police were called to an inner-city Auckland restaurant on Tuesday where a photographer accused French lock Pascal Pape of spitting at him while another said he was slapped in the face by a second French player.
Television reporter, Andrew Morrison, was at the restaurant and said members of the French team were enjoying themselves inside, but the situation turned “very ugly” and some players went outside when photographers arrived.
“One photographer was pushed in the face, another one was spat on and things started to get very heated. The players started to clear out of the restaurant after that and French management wouldn’t comment,” he told Television New Zealand.
“Police were called in to the incident but at this stage we understand no charges have been laid.”
The previous day there was an incident at another Auckland restaurant where the French players gathered before the International Rugby Board (IRB) annual awards.
The Kermadec general manager Hamish Klein confirmed there was a “small incident” but while social media reports claimed staff were in tears, Klein said there had been no complaints.
Meanwhile, McCaw downplayed the eye-gouging reports but did not deny it happened late in the game.
“I got a poke in the eye but I don’t know if there was was any intent,” he said as the All Blacks victory road show moved to earthquake-stricken Christchurch.
The All Blacks also defended France for challenging their pre-game haka before Sunday’s final, although the IRB took a dim view of that confrontation.
An IRB spokesman confirmed to the New Zealand Herald that France were fined NZ$5000 (US$4,000) for advancing over the halfway line as the All Blacks performed their traditional haka, or war dance, before kick-off.
France had breached a “cultural ritual protocol” and teams knew about the penalty before the tournament began, the Herald quoted the spokesman as saying.
However, All Blacks manager Darren Shand told Newstalk ZB radio there was no need for any punishment.
French captain Thierry Dusautoir, who was named the IRB player of the year on Monday, said the team had only finalised their plan to advance on the haka on the morning of the final.
“At one stage we were so close to them that they wanted to kiss the New Zealanders, but I told them to take it easy. It was a great moment and a moment we will remember all our lives.”
The victorious All Blacks meanwhile were greeted by 50,000 cheering fans during a parade through Christchurch.
Thirteen members of the team, including McCaw play for the Christchurch-based Canterbury Crusaders and McCaw said it was “special” to return to the city and “put a bit of a smile on people’s faces.”
Coach Graham Henry, who is originally from Christchurch said it was “great to be home and I hope the future is very bright, I’m sure it is.”
The February earthquake claimed 181 lives and caused widespread destruction which rendered the city unable to host the seven World Cup matches it had been allocated.
AFP
