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PARIS - France warn they will improve further and their best may not be sighted until next year's World Cup.
Manager Jo Maso acknowledged New Zealand were the better team at Stade de France but said part of the reason was their superior preparation.
The French, like the other European nations this month, have plucked their players out of club play for a series of internationals.
Ahead of the World Cup, the French club season will not interfere, with Maso and coach Bernard Laporte to have seven weeks of preparation time with their side ahead of the tournament starting on September 7.
Laporte offered a brief response when asked whether France could beat the All Blacks next year in Paris should they meet in the World Cup final. "Yes, wait and see," he said through an interpreter, pronouncing satisfaction at the giant improvement since losing 47-3 in Lyon the previous weekend.
"I'm pleased with the spirit but disappointed with the result.
"Our players really put commitment into the game, we got back to playing at a high level.
"We were more intelligent in our organisation but we didn't have as much power or speed.
"If there's a lack of power then they need to work on that. We have 10 months to do that [before the World Cup]."
Maso, renowned in the 1960s for his flair and panache on the international stage, defended the repeated kicking of his team, who were rarely prepared to use the width of the field.
"When you have bad ball, it is realistic and intelligent not to take too many risks," Maso said.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen wondered whether the hosts kept some cards hidden over the two tests. "I thought they played a lot better rugby but they kicked a lot of ball again though so maybe they're keeping a few things up their sleeve for the World Cup."
- NZPA
