Watch France take on the All Blacks on Sky Sports Action on Saturday from 8am
Thursday 14 June 2018 10:01, UK
France have made five changes but could find no room for veteran Wesley Fofana as they look to bounce back in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.
Defensive lapses by the loose forwards in the heavy 52-11 defeat in Auckland last weekend have forced coach Jacques Brunel to rush late arrivals Kelian Galletier and Mathieu Babillot straight into the starting line-up.
They replace Judicael Cancoriet and Fabien Sanconnie, while Kevin Gourdon, who started on the flank in Auckland, moves to No 8.
There are two backline changes with Benjamin Fall coming in at full-back for Maxime Medard while Gael Fickou replaces injured wing Remy Grosso.
The experienced Fofana, whose last Test was in November 2016, has trained freely with the squad this week after missing the first Test in Auckland last weekend because of injury.
But Brunel has retained Geoffrey Doumayrou to partner captain Mathieu Bastareaud in the centres.
Galletier and Babillot were late arrivals in New Zealand after playing in the Top 14 final between Castres and Montpellier two weeks ago along with Fall who starts at fullback.
France: 15 Ben Fall; 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 11 Gael Fickou; 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Morgan Parra; 1 Dany Priso, 2 Camille Chat, 3 Uini Atonio; 4 Bernard Le Roux, 5 Yoann Maestri; 6 Mathieu Babillot, 7 Kelian Galletier, 8 Kevin Gourdon.
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bougarit, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Paul Gabrillagues, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Maxime Medard.
