KEY POINTS:
The French test team is something of an unknown quantity for the Kiwis despite the searching analysis of Les Chanticleer's two recent wins over Papua New Guinea.
The French rate themselves a chance of upsetting the tourists in Paris tomorrow morning after watching New Zealand lose in Great Britain and taking confidence from 38-26 and 22-16 victories over the Kumuls.
Undoubtedly, that will mean they bring a brutally physical approach. In the past, that has sometimes included eye-gouging, biting, testicle grabs, sprig rakings, head butts and other illegalities designed to put opponents off their game.
"We've addressed that with the players and said that if we play the intensity of the game we want to play then that shouldn't come into it," said coach Gary Kemble.
French Rugby League is very similar in size to New Zealand's. There are around 25,000 players registered with the 120 rugby league clubs in France and 1800 students from 60 schools play in competition. Here, participant club figures range between 120-140 and player registrations hover just over 20,000.
The Kiwis have not played in Paris since 1961 and despite widespread promotion it is not known what the crowd size at Stade Jean Bouin will be, especially given threats of strike action to disrupt public transport.
But it won't be a friendly crowd.
"We just have to ignore all that," Kemble said of the threat of rough stuff that might be to the taste of hostile supporters. "We need to focus on gaining territory and then scoring when we do get to the right end."
The referee is Ashley Klein from the Super League who was video ref for the Lions series and has whistled Kiwis-Kangaroos games, so he should keep good discipline and the New Zealanders will be familiar with his style.
The Kiwis are still disappointed with their clock-off just before and just after halftime in the third test against the Lions last weekend, when they let in the telling tries, Kemble said. "They're down about that and this weekend they really have something to prove."
Wigan halfback Thomas Leuluai comes back into the mix this week after injury, Kemble sticking with Jeremy Smith and Ben Roberts in the halves but continuing the search for a replacement for Stacey Jones by taking the unusual approach of using a half off the bench.
That is partly to give them more spark out of dummy-half. "We think David Faiumu has great footwork that makes him a danger but he can also play lock, so we're looking to change things around there."
Teenager Shaun Kenny-Dowall had impressed all tour with his attitude and ability and gets his debut on the left wing to replace the injured Taniela Tuiaki. Kemble said the development of many players on the tour was the positive to come out of it despite the 3-0 result so far. "There are a couple of players who we thought weren't quite ready but they've proved they are, there have been others who stepped up. There are others who haven't stepped up."
In the first group he named fullback Sam Perrett, centre/wing Chase Stanley "and Simon Mannering has been outstanding. Roy [captain Asotasi] always does his job well. Jeff Lima and Jeremy Smith have adapted to test football instead of playing a role for the Storm off the bench."
Those in the second group he preferred not to name, but said they had been given specific areas where they needed to improve. "We've looked at attitude on and off the field to try and get them to improve."
The squad had worked hard this week and deserved a win, Kemble said. He's not expecting that to be easy.
"Their tests against PNG were pretty rugged encounters and they performed well. It's going to be a tough game."
* Meanwhile Sydney police have recovered the NRL grandfinal winner's ring stolen from Kiwis centre Paul Whatuira's home in a burglary in 2003. Also found were methamphetamines, cannabis and an assortment of stolen identification cards.
A 28-year-old woman has been charged with possessing stolen goods and a prohibited drug and will appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on December 6.
KIWIS V FRANCE
* Tomorrow 5.55am
* Live: Sky Sport 1
* Replay: Maori TV, noon
