France rugby coach Bernard Laporte stoked the fires of his ongoing spat with New Zealand counterpart Graham Henry here by saying the Kiwi had a lot less to say while he was coaching Wales.
Both coaches have been slinging mud during France’s Tests against the All Blacks, ever since Henry hit out at France a few days ago accusing the tourists of spoiling tactics and making their match a poor spectacle.
Laporte retorted by claiming the All Blacks had shown a lack of respect to France, and seemed to suggest that Henry was only being so outspoken because he was in the comfort zone of his native New Zealand.
“I’d like to say to Graham Henry and (assistant coach) Steve Hansen that they spoke a lot less (to the press) when they were coaching Wales,” said the Frenchman.
“It’s like they’re riding a wave here. I imagine it’s got something to do with the good air in New Zealand. That’s good, because it’s (Joe) Rokocoko, (Dan) Carter, (Ritchie) McCaw, (Ali) Williams who are making sure of their (Henry and Hansen) successful coaching careers.”
Henry coached Wales from 1998 to 2002 and Hansen succeeded him from 2002 to 2004.
“When we beat Wales 36-3 in Cardiff, he (Henry) had a lot less to say before and after the match,” Laporte added.
Henry claimed after the first Test against New Zealand, who won 42-11, that France had deliberately employed delaying tactics.
He also claimed that several French players were feigning injury lying on the ground, and accused them of not engaging fully in the scrums.
Laporte hit out: “That (claim) really got me going because it angered the players and so I told them, ‘don’t worry, I’ll sort out Henry’.”
AFP / Rugbyheaven.