French captain Mathieu Bastareaud is back in Wellington, in the same hotel where he made a name for himself in New Zealand in 2009.
After a night out following France's 14-10 loss to the All Blacks nearly 10 years ago, the midfielder claimed he was attacked by five men outside the hotel he was stating at.
He had cuts and bruises all over his face and said that the streets of New Zealand's capital were not safe.
But after an apology was issued on behalf of the nation by then Prime Minister John Key, it was discovered Bastareaud had actually had just fallen over in his hotel room and smashed his face on a table.
He apologised for lying, and admitted he should have told the truth earlier.
Speaking to media ahead of the second test against the All Blacks in Wellington, Bastareaud said he has moved on from the incident.
"It was many years ago, for me it is in the past - not for you journalists, but my life has moved on and I'm in a good place," he said.
"It was nine years ago. I've turned the page, do it as well. I'm here to talk about the match, not the hotel."
Bastareaud was understandably more interested in talking about the second test and how France plans to bounce back from last week's 52-11 hiding in Auckland.
France started strongly against the back-to-back world champions, but it all came crumbling down in the second half as New Zealand ran away with a huge win.
"Last week we were unworthy to wear that jersey," he said.
"We must show pride. Yes, we play the best team in the world but if we don't have the desire to challenge them, if we are just here to say 'it's the end of the season', then it is not possible."
"We are adults. We must show we are better than the way we played in the second half last week, where we defended like kids. We must show we are a team.
"There is a good spirit and we must show it on the field."
Newshub.
