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PARIS - A decade ago the rallying rugby cry in New Zealand was "remember Nantes".
This week, the French are adopting the same call.
The All Blacks had won the first test on their visit to France 20 years ago but were then battered 16-3 at Nantes in
a defeat they used as the impetus to recover their momentum and annex the first World Cup.
France are in even more disarray after their 47-3 belting in Lyon. They were beaten everywhere on the park in a display coach Bernard Laporte described as impotent.
He had few answers and yesterday was facing the prospect of being without experienced captain Fabien Pelous, who was to have X-rays on rib damage.
Veteran loose forward Serge Betsen has been recalled to the squad but, from most accounts, his form is not in the same league as his courage. However, he has replaced Thierry Dusautoir and Pepito Elhorga has taken the place of fullback Julien Laharrague.
French rugby magazines were preparing pieces this week urging the nation and the players to make amends in Paris this Sunday as their predecessors did at Nantes in 1986.
During the buildup to that test, French coach Jacques Fouroux was so furious with his side he refused to speak to them until the eve of the match. Laporte will not use that approach because he has so much work to do on his pack and his tactics.
Insiders maintain Laporte is not under threat for his job even though he has been unable to find any counter to the All Blacks in their last two meetings. French rugby president Bernard Lapasset has been a huge advocate for Laporte in a test coaching career which now reads 50 wins, 26 defeats and two draws.
France made occasional inroads with their drives but the All Blacks put their scrum on rollerskates, the lineout spluttered, their loose forwards were shut out and the backline betrayed the traditions of flair and deceptive running.
Damien Traille's persistent siege-gun kicking approach was baffling.
But the makeshift first five-eighths was under instructions and will play again this week. Frederic Michalak is still injured and the gifted Lionel Beauxis, who took France to the under-21 title, is not considered ready for the next level.
So Traille will stay at five-eighths although he will surely vary his methods at Stade de France.
The French looked frightened to attack with any moves from inside their half and that impression was confirmed by some insiders.
Statistics given to the French coaching staff showed the All Black defence rarely conceded a try from a move started outside their quarter, their scrambling tackling and screens were too solid. The magic figure was that the All Blacks only became vulnerable 27m from their line.
So Laporte demanded Traille use his powerful boot to send France towards that magic zone - the only problem was the chasing line was ordinary and the All Blacks were reliable on the catch and counter.
While the hubbub continued in French rugby, the All Blacks took the two-hour, high-speed train ride north to Paris yesterday with no reports of any injuries to impact on their choices for this weekend.
They had recovered well after a dinner with the French at Lyon which went deep into the small hours. Former All Blacks Jonah Lomu and Kees Meeuws were guests at the function next to the Stade de Gerland.
