France assistant coach Emile Ntamack hopes the assault on French player Mathieu Bastareaud doesn't cause problems between Les Bleus and the New Zealand people.

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) will speak to police about an apparently unprovoked assault on the centre just hours after his team lost the second Test to the All Blacks 14-10 in Wellington.

The French team held a press conference in Sydney on Monday ahead of Saturday's Test match against the Wallabies and were keen to play down the incident which left the 20-year-old player upset but not seriously injured.

"It's bad for Mathieu, he doesn't play," Ntamack said.

"This is a sport but when you are in an incident like that, it is always a shame.

"I don't want to see a problem between Les Bleus and the New Zealand All Blacks and the New Zealand public.

"It's just a bad incident. He hasn't broken a bone or something like that.

"In rugby you have some stupid people (fans)."

Bastareaud has four stitches in his face after he was attacked in central Wellington by a group of men early on Sunday morning.

The French team spokesman Lionel Rossigneux said the player had spoken to New Zealand police but was now en route to Paris after opting to return home to recuperate with family.

"He's fine. He left Sydney airport this morning," Rossigneux told AAP on Monday.

"A scan didn't show anything. It's just four stitches and a black eye.

"Yesterday he was shocked. His main concern is he wants to finish this tour and go home."

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew told Radio New Zealand the union was "bitterly disappointed" by the attack, which struck at its reputation as host of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

"I'm sure the whole country will join with me in extending an apology to the young man for being exposed to such thuggery," Tew said.

"We'll be in close touch with the team over the next couple of days to make sure they understand that any support they want we can offer them, but ... they are pretty keen to move on from the incident."

The NZRU would be speaking with police about the attack to see what could be done, Tew said.

"But ultimately it comes down to the individual that was involved to lay charges, so we'll wait and see what happens," he added.

Rossigneux said French rugby officials had not made a complaint to police about the attack because Bastareaud could not identify his attackers.

"When we were talking with him and asking him if he could give a description, he said, 'No, I didn't even know there were four or five, they just came quickly upon me and hit me ... and I didn't have time to realise what happened'," Rossigneux said.

"By the time he went back to the hotel, we phoned the team doctor and the team doctor gave him four stitches. What would be the point in calling the police?

"In the end there wouldn't be any way to find the people involved."

Rossigneux added: "We offered to have him stay until the end of the tour with us but he preferred to go back to France and go back to his family.

"It's a sad story, I'm afraid."

Bastareaud, who is a cousin of veteran France and Arsenal footballer William Gallas, underwent a scan on his injuries in Australia before heading back to France.

SYDNEY AAP/AFP