Rugby: Trench warfare familiar for French

France halfback Julien Dupuy said the physicality of European rugby prepared his side well for the first test against All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images

Halfback Julien Dupuy says France felt right at home in the arm wrestle nature of Saturday's test rugby defeat of the All Blacks and was surprised his team finished the stronger.

One of the stars of the 27-22 boilover at Carisbrook, Leicester half Dupuy kicked 12 points and provided slicker service than opposite Jimmy Cowan, who was under pressure all night.

Dupuy had the advantage of playing behind a dominant pack and said it was the type of game that players from the leading clubs in France and England were used to.

"In England, the Championship is hard as well," he said.

"It was the same physicality as the big games in Europe - for the semifinal or the final."

Dupuy's comments concur with those of All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who felt the Super 14's hard grounds and open style were not an ideal lead-in to tight tests.

"I think the Super 14 produces some quality rugby players (but) it certainly is different to play against a side who put us under huge pressure at scrum time, drove a lot of lineout ball," he said.

"We struggled with the physicality of that or to find a solution to that."

A recent batch of knockout rugby brought the curtain down on another long European club season which had been physically draining.

Dupuy said it made France's win even more satisfying.

"We were maybe a little bit tired because we've played for eight months. The All Blacks played 10-12 games (in the Super 14) - I've played 30 games this year," he said.

"We tried hard, to score early, because we knew in the last 10 minutes it would be hard for us to play."

As it turned out, France pulled clear in the final quarter, with an intercept try to fullback Maxime Medard proving decisive.

- NZPA