France have made four changes to their starting 15 for the second Test against the All Blacks, among them the inclusion of the experienced Frederic Michalak at five-eighth.
Michalak, one of the late arrivals on tour because of his involvement in the French Top 14 final, came off the bench in the 23-13 first Test defeat in Auckland.
He will play his 66th Test when he runs out in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Also coming in are seasoned prop Nicolas Mas, rookie lock Christophe Samson and Test debutant Bernard Le Roux at openside flanker.
South African-born Le Roux replaces Fulgence Oeudraogo, whose tour was ended by an ankle injury in the opening Test.
Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has also chosen to swap roles for Maxime Medard and Yoann Huget.
Medard, who impressed at fullback in the 38-15 win against the Blues on Tuesday night, takes over the No.15 jersey, while Huget goes to the left wing.
There are also four changes on the bench, including a potential first Test cap for five-eighth Remi Tales.
Powerhouse midfielder Mathieu Bastareaud, who sat out the first two tour fixtures, is over a thigh problem to get a spot among the reserves.
France: Maxime Medard, Adrien Plante, Florian Fritz, Wesley Fofana, Yoann Huget, Frederic Michalak, Maxime Machenaud, Louis Picamoles, Bernard Le Roux, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Yoann Maestri, Christophe Samson, Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szarzewski, Thomas Domingo.
Res: Benjamin Kayser, Vincent Debaty, Luc Ducalcon, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Yannick Nyanga, Brice Dulin, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Were they actually lineout steals, or poor throws?
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Fair play - no recollection of that. I stand corrected!
Jerry
Guest
Yeah, I thought the AB's won the lineout battle even with Coles messing up a few throws.
atlas
Guest
NZ won three of France's lineouts (by Romano, Cane and Retallick)) - from 12. I'd say that was above average at test level?
fredstone
Guest
Add NZ, Aus, England and Wales to the list...but then there'd be nobody to play.
pogo
Guest
So you think they shouldn't have to release pi players because they pay them good money? By that logic they shouldn't have to release french or english players either.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
No idea why PSA keeps persisting with Michalak. He is like something out of one of the Pink Panther films. I also think that Lopez deserves another shot. I think that Vahaamahina needs to be fitter, but he put himself about last week and I don't see why he's been dropped? The NZ lineout wasn't exactly threatening, although maybe PSA feels he needs to off-set the aerial loss of Ouedraogo with Samson. It will be interesting to see how the ABs deal with what is a comparatively short French front row. Mas is a very good player, and I'm expecting him to really serve Crockett up. The French bench looks good too. Some good impact there.
WRM
Guest
KPM loves Taylor and Fruean and is looking for something to blame. Fruean is not good enough because his stamina is terrible and he tends to go missing as a result and Taylor just is nowhere good enough. On the wing he has Savea, Jane, Gear, Guildford, Ranger, B.Smith, Halai, Masaga and TNW ahead of him and at FB Dagg, Piaetau, B.Smith, Anscombe and Barritt are ahead of him. He would struggle to make an ABs D team.
dcnz
Guest
Good players rise above the failings of a coach, aka Ben Smith under Jamie Joseph. Ranger is very exciting but his passing still lets him down. Fruean has stamina issues, which is well documented, and Todd is simoly too small to be dominant. Andre Taylor got worked out by opposition teams and Dagg is in a form slump. I don't think you can sheet it all back to the coaches.
WRM
Guest
KPM Taylor has his best ever year under Hammett and Fruean also with Blackadder. You are just blaming the coach for you fav players downfall like everyone does with Cooper and Deans. The reason Ranger has hit great form is only known to Ranger and to assume that its because of the change of coaches is a bit of a stretch. Ranger was ciached by Henry and co at international level and then fell away in form. Go figure.
WRM
Guest
I think Basta should start along with Dulin and Vahaamahina. Para is injured right?
riccardo
Guest
Good post mate, thanks...
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Don't really know tbh. As I said in my first post in the thread, PSA really wanted a beefier guy in the backrow. Personally, I have always liked the French tradition of 2 fairly mobile flankers around 100kgs like Dusautoir, Nyanga or Ouedraogo. Bernard Le Roux is a typical saffa backrow. I don't think he is as quick and efficient in the ruck as the other 3 but I guess PSA really wanted to put some weight in the scrum too as it didn't go well in test 1. I would think that the scrum would go better with this pack. As I said, the only change I like is Medard at 15. I wouldn't have started Michalak, Sansom and even Le roux over Lopez, Vahaamina and Nyanga. But I guess PSA wants to try a different approach in test 2 and put what he thinks is the best starting XV in test 3 and I like the fact he is trying new things now. Hansen has to get a competitive side now as the RC will quickly follow so it's probably harder for him to make changes like that. But we should get another big game tomorrow! Bastareaud is more a curiosity tbh. He would have to be at full speed to be damaging but every time I see him play he gets 2-3 guys on his back at medium speed or standing then stops and falls. I think it's hard for a team to use a guy like that as he isn't as dynamic as a Tuilagi I would say ( or RR). But he can run/walk the last 5m with 2 blokes on his back and score the winning try I guess :). Tbh I think it will be tougher for France this time as I think the ABs will be much more efficient at the ruck in game 2 after what Hansen and Kirwan saw last Saturday and Tuesday.
riccardo
Guest
nickoldschool, The return of Mas to the front row will be interesting given Crockett has retained his spot. The familiar pairing of Michalak-Machenaud to start and swapping Medard and Huget talks to a stronger faster backline, particularly with Bastareaud on the bench. I know nothing of Le Roux at openside though. Will he add to the formidable back of Le Bleu with the able Oeudraogo flying home? It appears these few changes will galvanise this side; your thoughts?
riccardo
Guest
You probably have a point KPM. However, the players MUST account for some of the devlopment you are depending on coaches for and the player you nominate Ranger, is a case-in-point. A Sevens player in 2006, Junior All Black 2009 and All Black in 2010. Off field indiscretions and inconsistency saw him return to Auckland with improvements required. That it has taken the 2 sirs to galvanise him into remedying his defence in particular is not just Lam's fault and talks to a lack of commitment from the player over that period as well. I concur the Coaches, systems, administration and general environment can have a positive or negative effect on players but equally their own motivation is paramount. The European clubs need to be influenced more by the RFU when it comes to National duties; look how good George Smith's Japanese club have been (Suntori?). That they can decline National sides is disgraceful and an unfortunate bi-product of professionalism.
winston
Roar Rookie
They also give PI players a the opportunity to earn good dollars.
winston
Roar Rookie
300K to get out of it.
Jerry
Guest
Oh well, those Aussies all look alike to me too.
riccardo
Guest
He actually said it to me on another thread mate.
riccardo
Guest
Richard is right. They haven't and they won't. Not only does it set a precedent they cannot afford to live up to but there are other young players coming through who when added to existing stocks over the next 12-18 months will make this conversation redundant. While we're on developmental players I have been watching the 1st xv Schools (Kings, Sacred Heart, St Kentigerns, Auckland Grammar). Man there is some prodigious talent coming through!