31.   France defeated the All Blacks in a test series last year in New Zealand, but would enter the final match as the underdog.

32.   France ended its test series earlier this month.

33.   France ended the test series in January and promised not to detonate any more blasts.

34.   France has promised to end the test series early next year.

35.   France has said this test series will be the last.

36.   France maintains the current test series is its last.

37.   France says the current test series will be its last explosions, and that it will sign the treaty next year.

38.   French President Jacques Chirac said earlier Tuesday in Paris that the test series would be shortened if the information technicians sought were obtained with fewer blasts.

39.   He flew home having skipped the test series.

40.   He hopes to be selected for the test series against England in the New Year.