Nolann Le Garrec of France clears the ball against the All Blacks. Photo: Photosport
France coach Fabien Galthie has made 10 changes to his starting line-up for the second test against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.
Galthie named six debutants in the match-day squad, four of whom will start. Pierre Bochaton earns his first cap in the back row while an entirely uncapped second row pairing of Matthias Halagahu and Joshua Brennan will also take the field.
Baptiste Erdocio is set to make his debut as prop, while Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer and Thibault Daubagna will hope to do so off the bench.
Only five players will play a second match in a row after they narrowly lost to the All Blacks 31-27 in the opening test in Dunedin last Saturday.
France's Head Coach Fabien Galthié. Photo: Photosport
Fullback Theo Attissogbe and centre Emilien Gailleton have been moved to the wings with first five Joris Segonds, halfback Nolann Le Garrec and hooker Gaetan Barlot, who will replace Gael Fickou as captain, retaining their positions.
Four of the five Top 14 finalists who were unavailable for the first test will start, with only Vergnes-Taillefer on the bench.
Team: Leo Barre, Theo Attissogbe, Nicolas Depoortere, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Emilien Gailleton, Joris Segonds, Nolann Le Garrec, Esteban Abadie, Jacobus van Tonder, Pierre Bochaton, Matthias Halagahu, Joshua Brennan, Georges-Henri Colombe, Gaetan Barlot (capt), Baptiste Erdocio.
Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Paul Mallez, Regis Montagne, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, Thibault Daubagna, Antoine Hastoy.
- Reuters
