New Zealand manager Darren Shand believes the French should not have been fine for confronting the haka before the World Cup final.
All Black unconcerned by France action during cup final haka
New Zealand manager Darren Shand believes the French should not have been fined for confronting the haka before the World Cup final.
The France squad linked arms and formed a 'V' formation before fanning out as they marched from the 10-metre line towards halfway.
The team was fined £10,000 because the action breached an International Rugby Board regulation on how the haka should be faced following previous confrontations.
"They came to play and that was great," Shand said. "The culture challenge is that. It should be done and then we get on with the real stuff."
France captain Thierry Dusautoir said the French team had decided on the morning of the match to confront the haka.
"At one stage we were so close to them that they wanted to kiss the New Zealanders, but I told them to take it easy," he said. "It was a great moment and a moment we will remember all our lives."
