Both the French and New Zealand have named their teams for face off on the weekend. The 1st Test of 3 between these two proud rugby nations takes place on Saturday at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
On the French side, there is the rookie at flyhalf, Camille Lopez, whereas on the All Blacks side Dan Carter, who is injured, is out of the team as expected and replaced by Aaron Cruden.
Herewith two parts, firstly a discussion on the All Blacks and thereafter the same for the French:
All Blacks:
Star playmaker Dan Carter was the highest-profile omission in an injury-affected All Blacks team named for the first Test against France at Eden Park on Saturday.
Carter was ruled out after cracking a bone in his hand last week, while scrumhalf Piri Weepu (concussion) and veteran prop Tony Woodcock (hamstring) also missed out.
With Richie McCaw still taking a break from the game, coach Steve Hansen installed Kieran Read as captain for the first meeting between New Zealand and France since the All Blacks won the World Cup Final at the same venue in 2011.
Prop Ben Afeaki and lock Jeremy Thrush were the only new caps in a match-day squad featuring 377 Test caps and will both start from the bench.
Hansen conceded the All Blacks’ build-up had been disrupted by injuries and said the New Zealanders could not afford to take France lightly – despite their last placing in this year’s Six Nations.
“We all know how the French can play,” he said.
“The only predictable thing about them is their unpredictability, so we will have to be ready for whatever they throw at us.”
Hansen drafted in Aaron Cruden to replace Carter at flyhalf and named Aaron Smith in Weepu’s No.9 role.
Wyatt Crockett steps in for Woodcock, while hooker Dane Coles gets his first run-on start in his fifth Test ahead of Keven Mealamu on the bench.
The New Zealand team still features a strong core of experienced All Blacks plus a clutch of younger players, with a combined total of 377 Test caps in the starting XV.
In the backs, the well–oiled provincial combination of Aaron Smith and Aaron Cruden start their fifth Test together while the All Blacks most capped midfield combination of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith will again link up.
The back three sees the experienced Israel Dagg at fullback joining with two Super Rugby stars Ben Smith and Julian Savea on the wings.
“Though the week has been disrupted with injury and illness, we have still been able to have a good week’s preparation and there is no doubting that our two camps have been invaluable in assisting with this,” Hansen said.
“To their credit, everyone has worked hard off the field and we couldn’t be happier.
“The young guys have provided that unbridled enthusiasm that comes with being a new All Black, while the more experienced guys have provided the calm focus that’s needed to allow a busy week to be dealt with in the right manner and to prepare well.
“The team is excited again about meeting the French at what looks set to be a sold–out Eden Park and given it’s a Centenary celebration for Eden Park, I’m sure the fans will get into the occasion as well.”
The All Blacks have played France 51 times since 1906, with 38 wins to the All Blacks, 12 wins to France and the one draw.
The French last played in a three-match Test Series in New Zealand in 1968.
France:
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre caused a surprise on Wednesday as he handed flyhalf Camille Lopez his international debut for the first Test against world champions the All Blacks on Saturday in Auckland.
Saint-Andre, who is bidding to bounce back from a poor Six Nations which saw France land the unwanted last place for the first time since 1999, named 24-year-old Lopez ahead of the vastly more experienced Frederic Michalak.
However, Michalak has only just arrived in New Zealand after recently crowned European champions Toulon lost to Castres in last Saturday’s French championship Final.
Lopez, though, has also caught the eye with an impressive season for Top 14 minnows Bordeaux-Begles.
Saint-Andre, who took over the reins from the unpredictable Marc Lievremont after the French lost 7-8 to the All Blacks in the 2011 World Cup final, named Lopez alongside eight-times capped scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud, a player very much in favour last November but dropped during the Six Nations after unconvincing performances.
The more experienced Morgan Parra was unable to make the tour after suffering a thigh injury in his side Clermont’s French championship semi-final defeat to Castres last month.
“Lopez has arrived here in good shape, he has worked a lot these last four to five weeks,” said Saint-Andre, who is trying out his seventh different halfback partnership in 16 tests.
“He came here really enthusiastic, fitted in with the rest of the squad really well and acclimatised to the system. He has trained really well, we had no doubts about his starting the match.”
Saint-Andre, a former France captain who made his name as coach in England with Gloucester before stints with Bourgoin, Sale and Toulon, also handed a debut to experienced 28-year-old wing Adrien Plante.
Plante, who is set to play for Racing-Metro next season, gets his chance after a consistent season with Perpignan and fills an area where the French are weak as star wing Vincent Clerc has missed the tour because of injury.
“This will remain engraved in my memory and I will be able to say that this was my first cap,” said Plante, referring to the prestige of his debut coming against the world champions.
Apart from those three players, Saint-Andre stuck with largely the team that failed to inspire during the Six Nations, managing just a come-from-behind draw with Ireland and a narrow home win over Scotland.
Toulouse flanker Thierry Dusautoir captains the side for the 36th time while Plante’s fellow wing Maxime Medard wins his 33rd cap almost four years to the day to when he scored the test winning try against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
The French play two further tests – Saint-Andre wanted a tough examination of his side’s potential as he develops the team towards the ultimate goal of the 2015 World Cup – in Christchurch on June 15 and then New Plymouth on June 22.
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg. 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (Captain) 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ben Afeaki, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Rene Ranger.
France: 15 Yoann Huget, 14 Adrien Plante, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (Captain), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Akexandre Flanquart, 20 Yannick Nyanga, 21 Jean-Marc Doussain, 22 Frederic Michalak, 23 Maxime Mermoz.
Date: Saturday 8 June
Venue: Eden Park, Aukland
Kick-off: 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 09:35 French Time, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), tba (Australia)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)