France love All Blacks

"It's a matter of quality and fairness of their play," said captain Fabien Pelous whose 96-cap career has been peppered by numerous encounters with the All Blacks.

"Looking at the individual players in their team, you have the feeling that New Zealand is the country which has been bringing out the most attractive players for many years, players who are a challenge to the standards of our sport."

The younger players also regards the All Blacks as the team who represent the body and soul of rugby.

"When I was a kid I used to watch all their games on television and the following night I often dreamed I was wearing the black jersey," said flyhalf Julien Peyrelongue.

"They play a very tasty game at very, very high level. Facing them will a real challenge and a true pleasure," said wing Cedric Heymans.

For Frederic Michalak, the main asset of the New Zealand XV is that their backs are "unpredictable" but the 22-year-old who is regarded as the latest personification of French flair also quotes the history factor.

The tests against New Zealand have provided many headlines in the annals of French rugby ever since the All Blacks toured France for the first time in 1906 and the French recorded their first win on February 27 1954.

Because they have won only 10 the 40 games between the two nations, with their last encounter in Paris ending in a draw in November 2002, the French cherish some of their victories over the All Blacks more than any other feat.

Coach Bernard Laporte - along with neutral fans the world over - still revels in the semi-final of the 1999 World which the French won 43-31, scoring four tries and with flyhalf Christophe Lamaison contributing 28 points including a massive 23-point spree in the second half.

"It was pure magic. France were down 17-10. Jonah Lomu scored a try after the restart," he said. At 24-10 against the World Cup hot favourites we all thought that the game was over and we were about to be steamrollered but two counter-attacks put us back on the right track and it's the All Blacks who cracked up."

"I was commentating for French television and we all went mad in our little box. It was pure bliss."

Pelous and flanker Olivier Magne are the only two French players who were on the pitch on that day who will cross the white line of the Stade de France on Saturday.

On the All Blacks side hooker Anton Oliver, lock Norm Maxwell, scrumhalf Byron Kelleher and centre Tana Umaga remain.

"I have played France many times and had some very emotional losses," said Umaga. "They are a team you can never count out. They have that quality of game in them when they decide to put it on the field. I'm sure that come Saturday, they'll will be putting that performance on the field.