Laporte talks peace

France do not want to see Saturday's one-off Test against the All Blacks featuring any of the past weekend's violence, coach …

France do not want to see Saturday's one-off Test against the All Blacks featuring any of the past weekend's violence, coach Bernard Laporte has said.

Laporte and team manager Jo Maso said that they were confident both teams would play within the laws of the game.

France's weekend international against South Africa was marked by violence, as was New Zealand's home clash against Argentina.

"We never have problems against New Zealand," Maso said after arriving in Wellington following their 1-1 series draw against the Springboks.

READ MORE

Laporte said he was more interested in building his new-look team, perhaps the most inexperienced French side to tour anywhere in the last 10 years.

"We are here to build our team for the (2003) World Cup but that doesn't mean we don't want to win on Saturday," Maso, a former French centre, said.

The French will name their side tomorrow after two training sessions and are expected to rotate some players.

Goalkicking outhalf Gerald Merceron, who scored 27 points in the first Test against the Springboks and all 15 points in the second, fullback Jeanjean Nicolas and centre Jauzion Yannick, are expected to play on Saturday.