France team v All Blacks: 10 changes as Top 14 finalists bolster Les Bleus with six debuts including son of ex-Ireland forward
France full-back Leo Barrre and an inset of Joshua Brennan.
France head coach Fabien Galthie has named his matchday 23 for the second Test against the All Blacks at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
New Zealand clinched a 31-27 victory over a largely second-string French outfit last week in Dunedin, but that hasn’t stopped Galthie from making several changes, which includes five players who featured in the Top 14 final.
France changes for second Test
After a starring role at full-back in the first Test, Théo Attissogbe shifts to the wing to accommodate the return of Stade Français’ star Leo Barre, while Émilien Gailleton moves from outside centre to the wing in the place of Gabin Villiere, who drops out of the matchday squad.
The new-look midfield sees Top 14 champion Pierre-Louis Barassi start at inside centre, in the place of last week’s captain Gael Fickou, and is partnered by Nicolas Depoortère.
While the rest of the backline has been altered, Galthie has left the halfbacks intact with Nolann Le Garrec and Joris Segonds starting for a second week in a row.
Just one forward has been retained in the starting XV, hooker Gaetan Barlot who will captain the team and he is joined in the front-row by loosehead prop Baptiste Erdocio and tighthead Georges-Henri Colombe.
In the engine room, Joshua Brennan – the son of former Ireland forward Trevor – makes his Test debut after a standout season with Toulouse, helping the side win the Top 14 title and is joined by fellow debutant Matthias Halagahu.
After debuting off the bench last week, South African-born loose forward Jacobus Van Tonder gets his first Test start for Les Bleus as he packs down in the seven jersey. Pierre Bochaton debuts on the other side of the scrum while Esteban Abadie starts at number eight.
Galthie has once again opted for a 6-2 split on the bench that includes two further potential debuts for back-rower Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer and scrum-half Thibault Daubagna.
In the starting XV, there are four debuts, all of which coming in the pack. In total, France have 174 Test caps in their matchday 23, with just 50 caps in the run-on team.
In stark comparison, Beauden Barrett will earn his 136th cap for the All Blacks on Saturday in a starting XV that boasts 708 Tests caps – 832 including the bench.
France team to face the All Blacks
France: 15 Léo Barré, 14 Théo Attissogbe, 13 Nicolas Depoortère, 12 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 11 Émilien Gailleton, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Esteban Abadie, 7 Jacobus Van Tonder, 6 Pierre Bochaton, 5 Matthias Halagahu, 4 Joshua Brennan, 3 Georges-Henri Colombe, 2 Gaëtan Barlot (c), 1 Baptiste Erdocio
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Régis Montagne, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22 Thibault Daubagna, 23 Antoine Hastoy
Date: Saturday, July 12
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (RA), Takehito Namekawa (JRFU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)
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