Dusautoir supports embattled Bastareaud

THIERRY DUSAUTOIR believes France team-mate Mathieu Bastareaud has been “sufficiently punished” for lying about being mugged during Les Bleus’ summer tour of the southern hemisphere.

Bastareaud is facing a lengthy international ban after he was forced to retract his original claim he was the subject of an unprovoked attack following a night out after France’s 14-10 Test defeat by New Zealand in Wellington in June.

His claim caused New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to publicly apologise on behalf of the country and a police investigation was launched, before the 20-year-old centre admitted he had made the story up and had actually hit his head falling over because he had drunk too much.