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All Blacks coach says France put on poor spectacle

Keith Robinson, front left, of the All Blacks trains with teammates at the Waitakere stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday before the second Test against France in Wellington on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

All Black coach Graham Henry has lashed France's tactics after his side's weekend victory in the first Test, accusing the tourists of spoiling tactics and making the match a poor spectacle.

His comments came as both teams rang in the changes for the second Test on Saturday following the All Blacks' 42-11 victory in Auckland, with the hosts making six alterations to their starting line-up and France making four.

Last week Henry criticized the International Rugby Board for not preventing calendar clashes which saw France's top players remain home for the climax of the domestic season.

Yesterday he took aim at the French team, criticizing the frequent stoppages for apparent French injuries as the All Blacks' momentum picked up in the second half.

He also accused the French of negative tactics in the scrum.

"There's a lot of people on the floor and the referees are having to stop the game. Some of them are injured, some are not," Henry told a press conference.

"I think it's frustrating the crowd and frustrating the players wanting to play ... it's frustrating the television audience. Rugby's a great game when it's played right but at the moment it's deteriorating in quality, and that's irritating," he said.

Henry said the outclassed French scrum frequently collapsed and tried to disrupt the All Blacks pack.

"I thought they were negative at scrum time, they didn't try to compete," he said.

France aim to add muscle to their front row by including 35-year-old prop and Test debutant Olivier Sourgens in place of Nicolas Mas as one of their four changes to the starting line-up.

He joins another 35-year-old, Christian Califano, and hooker Sebastien Bruno, 33, in a front row with a definitely grizzled look about it.

"Better late than never," Sourgens said of his debut at an age most players have hung up their boots.

Narbonne inside center Lionel Mazars will also make his debut, replacing the injured Jean-Phillipe Grandclaude.

Winger Julien Laharrague comes in for Benjamin Thiery, while Damien Chouly starts at blindside flanker ahead of Gregory Le Corvec.

Henry has changed half the forward pack as part of giving all his 30-strong squad some match time in the two Tests against France and a following match scheduled against Canada.

Veteran Anton Oliver comes in for Keven Mealamu at hooker, tough lock Keith Robinson replaces Chris Jack and Rodney So'oialo reclaims the No. 8 spot from Chris Masoe.

Jerry Collins has been named on the blindside flank ahead of Reuben Thorne provided he shows he has fully recovered from a heel injury.

In the backline, Luke McAlister goes into second five-eighth for Aaron Mauger while Byron Kelleher replaces Piri Weepu at scrumhalf.
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