Sporting Digest: Rugby Union

GUY LAPORTE, the French manager, yesterday claimed that New Zealand's accusations that French players were guilty of eye-gouging in their 33-25 win over a New Zealand XV on Saturday was pre-Test hyperbole and that New Zealand players had deliberately kicked his players.

FRANCE (v Nelson Bays, tour match, Nelson, NZ, tomorrow): S Viars; W Techoueyres, P Carbonneau, L Leflamand, Y Delaigue; B Bellot, A Macabiau; L Seigne, J-M Gonzalez, L Armary, M Cecillon, L Loppy, S Dispagne, X Blond (capt), O Brouzet. Replacements: E Ntamack, T Lacroix, G Accoseberry, A Benazzi, C Califano, L Benzech.

NELSON BAYS: R Hodgkinson; H Couper, C Benge, K Byers, B Havili; C Lott, B Calder; D Murcott, S Carter, K Pauling or P Fitisemanu, D Cavaye, T Matakaiongo, D Inch (capt), B Henderson, G Smith. Replacements: A Ford, M Milne, B Cadwallader, T Siale, S Maxwell, Fitisemanu or R Lienert, S Lea.

WALES (v Tonga, Test match, Nuku'alofa, tomorrow): A Clement (Swansea); I Evans (Llanelli, capt), M Hall (Cardiff), N Boobyer (Llanelli), G Wilkins (Bridgend); A Davies (Cardiff), P John (Pontypridd); I Buckett, G Jenkins (both Swansea), H Williams-Jones, A Copsey (both Llanelli), G Llewellyn (Neath), H Taylor (Cardiff), S Williams (Neath), E Lewis (Llanelli). Replacements: R Moon, P Davies (both Llanelli), N Jenkins, D Manley (both Pontypridd), R McBryde (Swansea), J Davies (Neath).