by Damian McKenzie has received another chance to prove himself in an outdated all Blacks team with 10 changes in the end of the third test against France.
The New Zealand coach Scott Robertson remained true to his pre-series promise to give every Fitige player time in his first squad, and rolled the cube for the match on Saturday in Hamilton, where they will follow a series Clean Sweep.
Advertising
The replacement hooker Brodie McAlister is ready to give his test debut while external back Ruben Love will start after having deleted a single cap from the bank against Japan last year.
Love and McAlister belong to eight players who in the first two tests against a weakened French tour squad, who missed most of their first election players who are rested, most of their first election games.
The All Blacks won a first first match 31-27 in Dunedin before finding their rhythm in the 43:17 victory of last week in Wellington.
There are six changes to the backline, with only Wing Rieko Ioane keeping his starting place.
McKenzie has another chance to prove his value as the team’s playmaker.
Advertising
McKenzie wore the number 10 jersey in the first eight tests of Robertson’s term in the past year, but he was changed with time when she was tour of the northern hemisphere with time.
The 136-test veteran Barrett started both French tests, but was excluded this week with a hand injury.
All four insider-back-half Cortez Ratima, McKenzie and Midfield Backs Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown games for the Super Rugby team The Waikato Chiefs, whose home square is Hamilton.
Lienert-Brown is one of the four players who were previously not available in the series due to an injury, together with Prop Tyrel Lomax, the dismantling Luke Jacobson and Wing Sevu Reece.
Advertising
Ardie Savea was appointed captain for a second game in a row, in the absence of regular skipper Scott Barrett, who suffered a calf injury in the first test.
France’s coach Fabien Galthie is expected to change his team significantly and will be announced later on Thursday.
New Zealand (15-1):
Ruben Love; Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Rieko Ioane; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (capt), Samipeni Finau; Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu; Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taucei’aho, Ethan de Groot.
Replacement: Brodie Mcalister, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Dalton Papali’i, du’pessis Kirifi, Noah Hotham, Timoci Tavatavanawai, wants Jordan.
DGI/MP/Tym
