Repeat performance sought by French skipper

He confesses to being no student of rugby history, but French captain Thierry Dusautoir is conscious of his team's long-proven propensity to self-destruct.

World class flanker Dusautoir stands on the verge of being the first player from France to hoist the Dave Gallaher Cup if they draw or win the second test against the All Blacks here tomorrow. That piece of silverware has been owned by New Zealand since its introduction for tests between the nations in 2000.

Also, Dusautoir's team can repeat the heroics of the 1994 tourists here, the last side to win two tests on New Zealand soil in the same year.

He feigned indifference when asked what it would mean to mirror the deeds of 15 years ago, describing himself as a player who lives for now -- having even put last week's 27-22 first test victory in Dunedin to bed.

"I think about (1994) only because people talk about it, last week I wasn't aware of it," Dusautoir said today.

"I don't know much about rugby history. I don't think about what happened in the past, we've got a game on Saturday and a game next week (against Australia in Sydney).

"We'll have to find the energy for that. The win last week will help us do that."

However, Dusautoir was well versed in the traditional French mentality of following a blinding performance with an ordinary one.

There are countless examples through history, which makes the 1994 double all the more meritorious -- their last-gasp 23-20 win at Auckland following a 22-8 victory in Christchurch from which most pundits were picking the All Blacks to bounce back.

Dusautoir called on his relatively young players to be braced for the home side's response.

"The All Blacks are going to be more aggressive. The game will be won through aggressiveness, through the physical aspect of the game," he said.

"This week we have tried to avoid the French way -- to play a great game and then the following game's not that good.

"It's a learning curve for us in difficult conditions."

The 27-year-old hesitated when asked to compare the challenge of winning a series in New Zealand to winning the annual Six Nations championship, which France have achieved in four of the last eight editions.

"Of course it's more difficult to beat the All Blacks in general. In this country it is very difficult, that's why everyone is talking about it."