‘It was never a red card’

‘‘But the rule is like that . . . you have to accept it. The referees only applied it.

‘‘The only think that I ask is that it be arbitrated all the time.

‘‘If you want to beat the All Blacks, everything has to be perfect. It was not the case.’’

France coach Jacques Brunel would not be drawn at the postmatch press conference about the impact of the red card, preferring to praise the character of his team for their performance after the dismissal.

He also had no argument about the decision to deny Doumayrou a try, but felt debu- tant hooker Pierre Bourgarit scored a legitimate try late in the second half.

Bourgarit made a burst through the All Blacks defence and referee Angus Gardner initially awarded a try before reversing his decision when the video referee advised Bourgarit had used his knees to effect a double movement after being tackled close to the chalk.

Brunel felt the 20-year-old La Rochelle rake was robbed.

‘‘At normal speed, he extended the arm, it’s the same movement,’’ he said in a Rugby

report.

Galletier, who formed a dominant back row with Kevin Gourdon and Mathieu Babillot, was proud that the French never gave up after the red card setback.

‘‘Not many people believe in us, but we are not on vacation,’’ he said.

‘‘If you want to beat the All Blacks, everything has to be perfect. It was not the case.’’ France flanker Ke´lian Galletier

PHOTOSPORT/ GETTY IMAGES France captain Mathieu Bastareaud consoles Benjamin Fall after Fall is shown the red card by referee Angus Gardiner during the second test in Wellington on Saturday. Inset, French midfield back Geoffrey Doumayrou shows his disbelief at the decision.