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Savea to No 7, Finau to start for All Blacks

Ardie Savea Sam Cane All Blacks rugby

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and his selectors have made seven changes - five personnel and two positional - to the starting XV to take on France.


In the absence of Sam Cane (concussion), vice-captain Ardie Savea shifts to No 7, with standout blindside flanker moving to No 8 in the side to face Les Bleus at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday (kick-off 9.10am Sunday NZ Time).


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Waikato's Samipeni Finau completes the sizable loose forward trio, getting his fifth test start, while Wellington's Peter Lakai, called up from the All Blacks XV, will provide cover off the bench.


After the completion of head injury assessment protocols, hooker Codie Taylor and first-five Beauden Barrett return to the run-on side after missing last week's 23-13 victory over Ireland in Dublin.


That shuffles Asafo Aumua and Damian McKenzie to the bench, with George Bell and Stephen Perofeta dropping out of the matchday squad.


Cam Roigard, nine months from a major knee injury, will start at halfback, with Cortez Ratima coming off the bench, while Sevu Reece returns to the right wing, with Mark Tele’a out due to a hand injury. 



The winner of the test will be awarded the Dave Gallaher Trophy, which All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said has provided plenty of inspiration for the team this week. 


“It has been special to be here in Paris during Armistice Day. We have honoured those commemorations as a team and also acknowledged the significance of the Dave Gallaher Trophy, named after one of our greatest All Black captains who led the ‘Originals’ in the first ever test match against France, and lost his life 11 years later in World War I.


"This is a trophy we would love to hold, and the players are prepared to take their opportunity in Paris this Saturday night.” 



The All Blacks have lost their last two meetings with France, 27-13 during pool play at last year's Rugby World Cup and handing over the Gallaher Trophy after a 40-25 result four years ago.


Both matches were at Stade de France, where the ABs had been unbeaten in the previous seven matches at the Saint-Denis venue since 2000.


Overall, the All Blacks have won 48 of 63 tests against France, including 19 wins and a draw from 28 matches in France. Les Bleus have not won three straight against New Zealand since 1994-95.


ALL BLACKS: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Reiko Ioane, Jordie Barrett (vice-captain), Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea (vice-captain), Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie


Unavailable due to injury: Sam Cane (concussion), Mark Tele’a (hand), Sam Darry (knee), Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (thumb) and Dalton Papali'i (upper hamstring)

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