New Zealand Tony Woodcock takes on France's Sylvain Marconnet during their clash at the Stade Velodrome © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: All Blacks file eye-gouge complaint

Features: Lomu remains rugby's biggest draw

Reaction: Henry heaps praise on clinical All Blacks

Verdict: Rampant All Blacks cement No.1 status

Matches: France 12 - 39 New Zealand

Players/Officials: Sir Graham Henry | Jonah Lomu | Mils Muliaina | Tony Woodcock

Tournaments/Tours: New Zealand tour

Teams: France | New Zealand

New Zealand's stunning 39-12 demolition of France has been over-shadowed by allegations that All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock was eye-gouged during the heated clash at the Stade Velodrome.

Woodcock emerged from the bruising encounter with abrasions around both eyes after the 71st-minute melee that followed Conrad Smith's try. Several players from both sides were involved as it spilled over the sideline, and it moved All Blacks scrum coach Mike Cron and kicking coach Mick Byrne to get involved to help quell the situation. Woodcock and French winger Vincent Clerc had to be dragged apart.

The All Blacks were seeking video footage of the incident, with early replays understood to be inconclusive. But some in the team were incensed that a French player appeared to rake his fingers across Woodcock's eyes and in his nose. There were no immediate reports of any citings from the Test.

French coach Marc Lievremont admitted he saw little of the incident and did not appear too concerned at Cron and Byrne's involvement.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who was involved in a separate stoush with a French player, played down suggestions that he had been kicked in the head area.

"That's not why I reacted, I just got caught in a horrible position and I was trying to get out of that and the fella underneath me felt I'd done something to him," McCaw said. "I don't think there was any reason for that happening but that's why it started. I wasn't aware of any eye-gouging or being kicked or anything like that. It may have happened but I wasn't aware of it. It was a bit of frustration on their part, reacting to something."

The All Blacks have also revealed that a stirring pre-match address from Jonah Lomu helped inspire the team's best performance of the year. France-based Lomu was the All Blacks' guest of honour on Thursday as he spoke to the players and urged them to reach great heights.

"We had the big man come in on Thursday, that was awesome to see a guy like that talk to us about where he's at. We were really inspired by the things he said," fullback Mils Muliaina said.

Lomu starred in the 1995 and 1999 World Cups for the All Blacks but his international career was cut short in 2002 by a debilitating kidney illness which later required a transplant. He moved to Marseille this month after signing a three-year deal with third division club Marseille-Vitrolles.

"He spoke a lot about him still wanting to be in the black jersey, and he still dreams about it today. For an older guy like me, that inspires you to keep being in the environment and want to play your best," Muliaina said. "He lost it through sickness and you never know what's about the corner. That in itself is inspiring."

Having had time to digest Lomu's words, Muliaina said he sensed the All Blacks were ready to explode at Stade Velodrome on a cool, clear night after some patchy efforts in their recent wins.

"Everything was just perfect, the weather, the field, the occasion. Just running out tonight, leaving the changing rooms, you just knew something was going to happen. You could see it on the boys' faces. We're absolutely delighted."

Coach Graham Henry also paid tribute to Lomu and his role in inspiring the All Blacks in recent days. "Jonah's an icon in the game in New Zealand. We're very proud of All Blacks history and what the All Blacks have achieved over 105 years and he was a special player," Henry said. "He played 63 test matches and was a very influential player in his time. To see him here and to talk to the team and to be here today was inspirational for the young fellas. It was very good to see him."