French escape citings in surprise ruling

7.45 am - by DANIEL GILHOOLY

CARDIFF - France have escaped punishment for three seemingly violent rugby acts against All Blacks players during the test at Paris on Sunday.

Match citing commissioner Bill Dunlop told New Zealand management today that none of the incidents were of sufficient severity to warrant a citing, including an apparent eye gouge by lock Fabien Pelous on All Blacks flanker Marty Holah.

The verdict did not impress All Blacks captain Taine Randell.

"I thought there was a bit in the gouging incident, the citing commissioner obviously didn't. That's his decision," Randell said.

All Blacks manager Tony Thorpe was restrained in how he could comment but said he would seek written confirmation from Dunlop and a full explanation why he felt there was not enough evidence to take their queries further.

"I wouldn't like to say they (the incidents) were clear-cut, that's what the commissioner is there to do. But at the end of the day, we do think there was intent," Thorpe said.

"He can't make an official complaint because he doesn't believe he can clearly state there was intent."

All Blacks management were further bemused by a comment from Dunlop that the three French players involved in the incidents -- Pelous and flankers Oliver Magne and Serge Betsen -- were repeat offenders from previous internationals.

"We're a little bit frustrated when the comment comes back the players who are involved have been involved in other incidents and seem to have been able to avoid any official sanctions," Thorpe said.

The All Blacks didn't believe there was provision to take the matter further.

"We'd be crying over spilt milk basically," said Thorpe.

The only chance of punishment befalling the French players was if the International Rugby Board or the French union acted on their own accord -- an unlikely prospect in either case.

"Certainly as the All Blacks we don't condone foul play of any form," Thorpe said.

"At the end of the day, that's what we have citing commissioners there for. We would hope that those people who are involved in the systems that are in place are able to make that judgement clearly."

Post-test video analysis revealed the incidents of apparent French thuggery and footage was emailed to Dunlop yesterday afternoon.

The incident involving Holah took place in full view of referee Scott Young but was seemingly not seen by the Australian official.

Magne could consider himself fortunate after appearing to grab the testicles of All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu. Lomu yesterday confirmed he had been on the end of the painful act and was "freaked" by it.

The third incident appeared to be a stamping of the leg of All Blacks captain Taine Randell by opposite number Betsen.

Thorpe added there would be no official complaint over the performance of Young in Sunday's test.

The All Blacks players put the issues aside today, training under cold grey skies in front of about 500 people at Cardiff Rugby Club, adjacent to the towering stands of Millennium Stadium where they will play Sunday's (NZT) tour-ending test against Wales.

It was the smallest crowd to watch a public practice this year and, with virtually nobody at the airport upon arrival yesterday, public interest in the All Blacks seemed muted compared to London and Paris. It was surprising considering Wales' rugby culture.

The interest should pick up however. The local Western Mail newspaper had six full pages devoted to the Welsh and New Zealand teams today and all 75,000 seats have been sold for the test.

- NZPA