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Zinedine Zidane, perhaps the most famous face in French football, is expected to meet the All Blacks today as the marketing force around the World Cup favourites kicks up a level.
Marseille-born Zidane achieved fame for leading France to the 1998 World Cup title and infamy last year when he was sent off in France's losing extra-time final tilt after headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.
The All Blacks and the famous French playmaker are being linked through their sponsors, adidas, who began a series of promotional drives yesterday in Marseille.
Fullback Leon MacDonald wants to talk to Zidane about methods of dealing with the unavoidable pressures of lengthy World Cup campaigns.
If the language barrier makes that too awkward, he hopes to compare kicking styles.
Meanwhile, All Black prop Neemia Tialata, a longtime mate of Tana Umaga, has donated his two tickets to the All Blacks' former skipper for Sunday's opening match against Italy.
Umaga is based in Toulon, where he has been appointed coaching director for the club that has signed Anton Oliver, Victor Matfield and George Gregan after their World Cup duties.
