In a move which suggests that World Cup organisers have a sense of humour, France, so often the All Blacks' nemesis at the tournament, have been assigned a hotel in Croydon, the modest borough in south London, and some among the travelling French press pack aren't happy.
A report in French newspaper Metro News described Croydon as "dull and monotonous", adding it was a "sad suburb".
![The streets of Croydon - not to French tastes. Photo / Getty Images](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/EMU2UNO46F3C5PDLOYMZZFXD6I.jpg?auth=be757fc2bb57007d1e41963af3164ecff75d5995065cc8675538fefedfac6c6f&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
The players are staying at the Selsdon Park Hotel & Golf and will train in the nearby suburb of Shirley.
Croydon - which is birthplace of model Kate Moss - has been voted one of the worst places to live in the UK due to various factors including investment and safety.