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Watch: Steve Hansen compares France's 'hard done by' feelings to All Blacks' series with Lions - 'I could squeal about that too'

June 21, 2018

The All Blacks coach says tough ref calls are all part of rugby. (Source: Other)

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says tough calls and missed opportunities in a Test series is all part of the game of rugby - and you only need to look back 12 months to realise his team knows what the French are feeling.

Hansen was challenged by a reporter today about possibly making the series a best-of-one after two controversial wins where the French were temporarily down to 14 men in both contests due to a yellow card in Auckland and red card last week.

"Most people, especially the French, feel it hasn't been a fair contest," the reporter stated.

"How would you feel about putting up the Dave Gallaher Trophy up for grabs again in a one off game on Saturday?"

Hansen shrugged off the idea immediately.

"You make the comment that the French feel like they've been hard done by - you can talk about any series and say that, that's the way rugby is.

"You could go back 12 months and I could sit here and squeal about that too but it's pointless isn't it?"

Hansen was referring to last year's drawn third Lions Test where his side was denied a last-minute penalty to win the series after French referee Roman Porte overturned his initial call and downgraded his decision to an All Blacks scrum instead.

Hansen said the rules for this year's series were already set and there wasn't any point getting worked-up about it.

"We've put it in the cabinet so there's no point giving someone else a break is there? We've got so we'll keep it."

The All Blacks face France in the dead-rubber match at 7:30pm on Saturday in Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.

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