All Blacks coach Steve Hansen talks about the mutual respect of two rugby-loving nations - but for that one incident in 1985.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen could have chosen a more appropriate event than the Rainbow Warrior bombing to illustrate the close ties between New Zealand and France.

Hansen eventually got his intended message across, which was to explain the mutual respect between the two rugby loving nations, but not before international news agencies had seized on his quote in a bid to add spice to the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup quarterfinal in Cardiff.

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GREENPEACE Greenpeace's flagship 'Rainbow Warrior' lies half-submerged in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand after a bombing by French secret service agents in this July 1985.

Any mention of the infamous 1985 bombing of Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland is likely to create some ripples in the waters between New Zealand and France.

While Hansen's reference provoked plenty of laughter from French and New Zealand journalists alike at the Swansea Cricket and Football Club on Friday (NZ time), there was nothing humorous about an incident which claimed a life 30 years ago.

In 1985 Dutch-Portuguese photographer Fernando Pereira was killed when French secret service agents blew up the Rainbow Warrior which was berthed in Auckland.

GETTY IMAGES All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

Two agents were later jailed for manslaughter over an event that strained New Zealand-France relations.

"There's been a great relationship between the two countries for a long long time and apart from the Rainbow Warrior we've probably been on the same page most of the time," Hansen said during a press conference to announce the All Blacks team to play France at Millennium Stadium on Sunday (NZ time).

In fact, Hansen was heralding one of rugby's great rivalries, one fuelled by France's ability to beat the All Blacks in big matches, most notably famous World Cup wins in 1999, in the semifinal, and 2007, in the quarterfinal.

"We don't limit it to the Rugby World Cup," Hansen said.

"From a rugby point of view we've got similar athletes. France have always had great athletes."

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He made special mention of French second five-eighth Wesley Fofana and inspirational captain Thierry Dusautoir.

Hansen has named a vastly experienced All Blacks side containing 1295 caps including the return of captain Richie McCaw from injury for the knockout match.

"This is the time of the tournament when the big boys have got to stand up or we're going home," he said.