France have changed more than half their starting side as they look to avoid a series whitewash in the third and final rugby Test against the All Blacks in New Plymouth.
Two of the changes have been forced, with the experienced pair of five-eighth Frederic Michalak and No.8 Louis Picamoles picking up tour-ending injuries in the 30-0 second Test defeat in Christchurch.
Their replacements are Remi Tales, who made his debut off the bench in that match, and South Africa-born Antonie Claassen.
Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has opted to make six other changes.
Among them are the inclusion of Brice Dulin and Marc Andreu at fullback and right wing.
Halfback Jean-Marc Doussain, whose one previous cap before the tour was as a substitute in the 2011 World Cup final, gets the No.9 jersey.
Damien Chouly, a tour replacement for first Test casualty Fulgence Ouedraogo, will be the starting openside flanker.
Alexandre Flanquart has been elevated to starting lock after getting his debut cap off the bench in the opening Test, but sitting out the second.
There is also a change at hooker, with Benjamin Kayser coming in for Dimitri Szarzewski, who goes to the reserves.
France: Brice Dulin, Marc Andreu, Florian Fritz, Wesley Fofana, Yohann Huget, Remi Tales, Jean Marc Doussain, Antonie Claassen, Damien Chouly, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Yoann Maestri, Alexandre Flanquart, Nicolas Mas, Benjamin Kayser, Thomas Domingo. Reserves: Dimitri Szarzewski, Eddy Ben Arous, Luc Ducalon, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Bernard le Roux, Maxime Machenaud, Camille Lopez, Mathieu Bastareaud.
allblackfan
Guest
Ben S, given all the foreigners playing in France and now in the French team, I'd say it would pay for the French coach to speak English!!
Ben.S
Roar Guru
He was a nutcase? Care to actually expand on that? The French side currently lacks a single semblance of structure. They are absolutely clueless. Laporte would remedy that. And what foreigners would they bring it? It helps to be able to speak French in France...
richard
Guest
Why bring back Laporte,the man was a nutcase.The French should maybe be looking at a foreigner,someone who will give them a different perspective.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Is Nyanga injured? I think he's been very good when he has come on in the last 2 Tests. He's not the biggest by any stretch, but he's a very good lineout and re-start forward. Chouly is just a lump - and he was jettisoned during the 6N, so I don't see the point in him being parachuted straight into the starting side with Le Roux being benched. Surely PSA hasn't made his mind up about Le Roux after a single game? Totally agree about Lopez too. Just bizarre. I'm looking forward to seeing how Dulin plays, and the midfield has looked good in every game - so I can see the logic behind not playing Fickou, but then what good is Bastareaud? I would have thought that it's been proven emphatically that ATM he isn't a reliable Test option. I think Laporte needs to come back ASAP.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Go reading comprehension. I even looked at the team list and missed the "reserves:" as well.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
'Their replacements are Remi Tales, who made his debut off the bench'...he is in the starting xv this time carnivean. but i wish you were correct, would rather have Lopez first.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Tales on the bench according to the article, so Lopez is starting I imagine.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
He is an enigma. No logic whatsoever. Why bring Fickou and Nakaitaci and not start them in any tests? I reckon he is out of options and just trying things for the sake of it. I have to admit I have rarely seen Remi Tales play but he isn't the future ten of the next decade at 29yo and i think Lopez deserved another go after a good first test. Kaiser I.o Szarzewski is probably the best decision PSA has made and hopefully we will get more balls at line outs time. We never know but when I look at what Hansen brought on the field am not optimistic.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
This PSA character... The mind boggles.