France coach Fabien Galthie has made 10 changes to his starting fifteen for Saturday’s second Test against the All Blacks, including a former Cheetahs and SA Schools lock.
The towering Jacobus van Tonder made an appearance off the bench last Saturday, and now starts in the loose trio for Les Bleus as they attempt to avenge their narrow 31-27 loss in Dunedin.
10-Cap hooker Gaetan Barlot was retained in the side and was named captain, with experienced centre Gael Fickou left out of the match-23.
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Four of the five who played in the Top 14 final on June 29 are starting along with Leo Barre, who arrived in New Zealand late due to a thigh injury.
Barlot will lead an inexperienced team with an average of only four caps each among the starters.
The most experienced French players such as prop Rabah Slimani (58 caps) and wing Gabin Villiere (19) were left out of the 23 altogether, while Cameron Woki (31) and Romain Taofifenua (55) will again start on the bench.
“It’s a rotation for stimulation, competition,” Galthie said.
“We brought the players to the end of the world. They have to play. We absolutely wanted to play them as quickly as possible.”
FRANCE — 15 Leo Barre, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 11 Emilien 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 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Baptiste Erdocio.
Bench: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22 Thibault Daubagna, 23 Antoine Hastoy.
© Agence France-Presse
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