Former All Blacks Jeff Wilson and Justin Marshall have once again criticised France following the second Test in Wellington on Saturday.
New Zealand claimed a dominant 43-17 triumph over Les Bleus at Sky Stadium to clinch the series with a game to spare.
They therefore got their hands on the Dave Gallaher Trophy but, according to Wilson, the French did not stay around to see it lifted.
‘We would never do that’
“It was a little disappointing that they didn’t stay out on the field for the presentation of the Dave Gallaher Trophy, which I think is disappointing because we would never do that over there,” he said on The Breakdown.
“I know they would be disappointed and frustrated, but for me there should be a respect between these two teams – there always has been in the past.”
Wilson and his fellow All Blacks great, Marshall, have been vocal critics of Fabien Galthie’s men on this tour to New Zealand.
Their frustration was previously aimed at the understrength squad that headed to the southern hemisphere, with the majority of their stars left at home.
Prior to the series, Marshall accused Les Bleus of ‘disrespecting’ the international game by sending a weakened team down under, and he has now been left disappointed by this latest act.
“I was there last year [in France] when the trophy was presented to France, when [the All Blacks] lost in November, and the All Blacks stayed there respectfully, as they always do,” he said.
“The French, they need to learn a lesson there that the game is only finished once the presentation has been done because it’s a very important trophy.”
Final Test coming up
There is no doubt that France’s decision to field an understrength outfit has lessened the importance of what could have been an incredible series, despite showing up well in Test one.
The All Blacks scraped to a 31-27 victory in Dunedin before dominating the second match to seal the series triumph.
Although the French are merely playing for pride this weekend, Wilson is expecting an improved performance from the visitors in the finale.
“There’s a huge amount of respect in regards to the past and what these countries have gone through – it’s an important part for me as well,” he said.
“Next week they’ve got to show something because they didn’t show what they were capable of and I would be surprised if we don’t see some sort of response.”
Rugby World Cup winner Stephen Donald is less convinced, however, and reckons that, even if they field a stronger side, it could be a long 80 minutes for the French.
“There were 10 changes from Dunedin to Wellington, are they going to make another 10 and go back to the team from Dunedin? They certainly showed something,” Donald said.
“I know we were better, got rid of the Test one rust but, to be fair, I think it’s a worry for them. It’s at the end of the season, they’re going to be in Hamilton so how are they going to go? How are they going to front?”