Morgan Parra will captain France for the first time when Les Bleus take on New Zealand in the final Test of their June series in Dunedin on Saturday.
The experienced scrum-half takes over from Mathieu Bastareaud, who has dropped out of the matchday 23 in one of two changes to the France team.
Wesley Fofana and Rémi Lamerat will form a new-look centre pairing, with the former playing his first Test since 2016, which was also against the All Blacks.
Jacques Brunel has stuck with the same pack that impressed in last week’s 26-13 defeat while Benjamin Fall starts at full-back after his red card in that game was rescinded.
There are a couple of changes on the bench, where Félix Lambey is set to make his Test debut after being named as second row cover, while Adrien Pélissié returns as hooker replacement. WHAT THEY SAID Brunel said: “Since the start, I knew I would play Fofana and Lamerat. I didn’t bring them here to see New Zealand and sit on the beach on holiday. The circumstances have made it that it’s now.
“Morgan Parra started ten years ago. From the moment we didn’t put Bastareaud on the team sheet, it was obvious that he would captain the side.” THE OPPOSITION Steve Hansen has rung the changes after clinching the series, bringing in six new faces in all. Shannon Frizell will make his Test debut after being named in the back row, with Ardie Savea also earning a start on the flank. Damian McKenzie replaces the injured Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams and Jack Goodhue come into the centres, and Waisake Naholo is included on the wing. There are two more uncapped players on the bench in Richie Mo’unga and Jackson Hemopo, who are in line for their debuts. KEY STAT New Zealand’s last home defeat to European opposition came in Dunedin, against France back in 2009. Maxime Médard is the only player from that game who will be involved again this weekend. France team to take on New Zealand: 15. Benjamin Fall (Montpellier) 14. Teddy Thomas (Racing 92) 13. Rémi Lamerat (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 12. Wesley Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 11. Gaël Fickou (Stade Toulousain) 10. Anthony Belleau (RC Toulon) 9. Morgan Parra (c) (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
1. Dany Priso (Stade Rochelais) 2. Camille Chat (Racing 92) 3. Uini Atonio (Stade Rochelais) 4. Bernard le Roux (Racing 92) 5. Yoann Maestri (Stade Toulousain) 6. Mathieu Babillot (Castres Olympique) 7. Kélian Galletier (Montpellier) 8. Kévin Gourdon (Stade Rochelais)
Replacements: 16. Adrien Pélissié (Union Bordeaux-Bègles) 17. Cyril Baille (Stade Toulousain) 18. Cedate Gomes Sa (Racing 92) 19. Félix Lambey (Lyon OU) 20. Alexandre Lapandry (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 21. Baptiste Serin (Union Bordeaux-Bègles) 22. Jules Plisson (Stade Français) 23. Maxime Médard (Stade Toulousain)
