France won the first skirmish of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium when the coin toss to decide team jersey colours went their way.
Because the dark blue of the French strip clashes with New Zealand's traditional black, a coin toss was conducted to decide which team would wear an alternative uniform.
"We were lucky because it means that we can play in blue and all around the world our supporters sing 'Allez les Bleus' and not 'Allez les Blancs'", team manager Jo Maso, who was representing France at the ceremony, told a news conference.
New Zealand were represented by manager Darren Shand, who has lost every toss since the start of the tournament and, according to assistant coach Wayne Smith, "got himself keyed up last night, having a few practice sessions."
Shand was once again unlucky but he then announced that the All Blacks still wanted to wear their black jersey and not the grey alternative strip.
"It doesn't matter, the main point is that we know we'll play in blue. The decision is in the hands of the International Rugby Board but it only concerns New Zealand," Maso said.
Captain Raphael Ibanez said he was pleased because all French players were proud of their colours but added: "Of course, it was important to win the toss. It's a good omen but what's truly important is what's inside the jersey. The All Blacks are a very strong team and if they play in pink, blue or white there would be as strong than playing in black."
Coach Bernard Laporte, who has been trying to demystify the All Blacks by calling them the New Zealanders and not the All Blacks since Sunday's last Pool D games decided France would face them in Cardiff, was quick to rush into the gap.
"To call them New Zealanders is even more accurate given the fact they'll be playing in grey," he said.
The French coach stated that his objectives hade not changed despite France's loss to Argentina in the opening game of the tournament.
"One could say we won the jackpot because we are now going to face what's maybe the best team in the world but we still want to win this World Cup and to do that we have to win three more matches," he added.
"Saturday's game is a quarter-final. Full stop. In any case, we would have had to play New Zealand at one stage or another. We're neither worried nor resigned to our fate."
Laporte refused to talk about his strategy before naming his starting lineup on Wednesday morning.
"We continue to keep faith in the competition for places within the squad. Just as the New Zealanders do. Like them, we don't have a first XV," he said.
"We only know that great teams need a good field kicker and at international level that means a kicker who can find our opponents' 22 from our 22," he added.
"That's why we have kept open the option of playing Lionel Beauxis at flyhalf and why, when Frederic Michalak plays, Damien Traille is at first centre."
