Suspicions of match-fixing have been alleged in a biography of former All Blacks coach Graham Henry.

The book, Graham Henry: Final Word, unearths Henry's belief that New Zealand's shock defeat to France at the 2007 Rugby World Cup was fixed.

Henry says that the All Blacks' post-match analysis found English referee Wayne Barnes to award only two out of a potential 40 penalties.

"He knew if a comparable situation had occurred in other sports, it would be investigated," writes biographer Bob Howitt.

"But there existed a blissful purity about rugby, or at least that's how everyone wanted to perceive it. It wasn't politically correct to even suggest the match officials might have favoured one team."

Graham Henry goes on to describe officiating as an 'absolute doozy'.

Written by
Nik Simon