0
Bashed France centre Mathieu Bastareaud heads home to Paris
By Greg Buckle,June 22, 2009
France assistant coach Emile Ntamack says he hopes the assault on France player Mathieu Bastareaud doesn't cause problems between Les Bleus and the New Zealand people.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) will speak with police about an apparently unprovoked assault on the centre just hours after his team lost the second Test to the New Zealand 14-10 in Wellington.
The France team held a press conference in Sydney on Monday ahead of Saturday's Test match against the Wallabies and were keen to play down the incident which left the 20-year-old player upset but not seriously injured.
"It's bad for Mathieu, he doesn't play," Ntamack said.
"This is a sport but when you are in an incident like that, it is always a shame.
"I don't want to see a problem between Les Bleus and the New Zealand All Blacks and the New Zealand public.
"It's just a bad incident. He hasn't broken a bone or something like that.
"In rugby you have some stupid people (fans)."
Bastareaud has four stitches in his face after he was attacked in central Wellington by a group of men early on Sunday morning.
The French team spokesman, Lionel Rossigneux, said the player had spoken to New Zealand police but was now en route to Paris.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html