A French newspaper has accused the Herald of trying to destabilise les Bleus with a front-page polemic of "an acidic pen and populist tone".
Aujourd'hui en France responded to a Herald claim this week that the French had picked a weak team for tomorrow night's marquee match against the All Blacks.
The Herald reported that the French selection disappointed ticketholders and devalued the tournament's showcase clash in the eyes of commentators.
France's second and third dailies, Le Figaro and Le Monde, also picked up on the Herald article but brushed it aside.
"The New Zealand press look to destabilise les Bleus," Aujourd'hui en France wrote in its headline.