New Zealand, France make mass changes to sides for third Test
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he will "trust the young fellas" to complete a series sweep after making 10 starting changes for Saturday's match in Hamilton.
French counterpart Fabien Galthie unveiled eight starting changes from the side hammered 43-17 in the second Test in Wellington.
Galthie recalled six players to the starting side who were involved in the tight 31-27 first Test loss in Dunedin but omitted in Wellington.
Among them are veteran midfield back Gael Fickou -- restored as captain -- experienced prop Rabah Slimani and impressive back-row forwards Mickael Guillard and Alexandre Fischer.
Galthie chose to leave most of his first-choice personnel at home, travelling with a tour party featuring 22 uncapped players and numerous fringe Test contenders.
"This is the best possible team," he told reporters on Thursday, addressing critics of a vastly inexperienced line-up for the second Test.
"It's a difficult time for the team, we hear what's being said. It's part of the game but our determination is redoubled."
Replacement prop Demba Bamba is the only player in Galthie's 23-man match-day squad in Hamilton making his first appearance of the tour.
Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and wing Theo Attissogbe will have started in all three Tests while seven players won't have taken to the playing field at all.
Robertson stayed true to his pre-series pledge to give game time to all of his squad's players, with hooker Brodie McAlister poised to make his Test debut from the bench and fullback Ruben Love running out for a first start.
Love and McAlister are among eight players in the 23 who played no part in the first two Tests
Only wing Rieko Ioane is retained from last week's starting back line, with Robertson keen to assess a host of new faces as he builds towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
"When the chances come up, you can't not play them, you've got to get them out there," Robertson said.
"It's the ability to trust the young fellas, set them up to be successful and off you go."
Robertson took comfort that three of the promoted starting players -- prop Tyrel Lomax, fly-half Damian McKenzie and midfield back Anton Lienert-Brown -- have all played more than 50 Tests.
McKenzie replaces 136-Test veteran Beauden Barrett, who suffered a hand injury at training which requires a scan.
Ardie Savea is captain for a second straight match in the absence of regular skipper Scott Barrett, who injured a calf muscle in the first Test.
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 Taukei'aho, Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Dalton Papali'i, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Noah Hotham, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Will Jordan.
France (15-1):
Leo Barre; Theo Attissogbe, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Fickou (capt), Gabin Villiere; Antoine Hastoy, Nolann Le Garrec; Joshua Brennan, Mickael Guillard, Alexandre Fischer; Matthias Halagahu, Hugo Auradou; Rabah Slimani, Pierre Bourgarit, Baptiste Erdocio.
Replacements: Gaetan Barlot, Paul Mallez, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Killian Tixeront, Pierre Bochaton, Thibault Daubagna, Emilien Gailleton
© 2025 AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Le Court makes history for Africa at women's Tour de France
It was a case of double celebration for the 29-year-old who took the fifth stage honours in a sprint to reclaim the leader's yellow jersey. Le Court edged Dutch duo Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen after a hilly 166km ride, the longest of the Tour, from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou Futuroscope to Gueret. Overnight leader Marianne Vos lost yellow to the AG Insurance-Soudal team leader after finishing eighth, 33 seconds adrift, on the day. Le Court, who had a brief spell already at the top of the general classification after stage two, now leads France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevot by 18 seconds. Vollering, the Tour winner in 2023 and favourite for this edition, is third at 23s after recovering from a heavy fall on Monday. Last year's winner, Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma, took fourth in the stage to sit well placed 24s off the overall lead. Thursday's sixth stage is a mountainous 123.7km ride from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert featuring three ascents including the category one climb up the Col du Beal, with the race finishing on Sunday.
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Henry puts New Zealand in control of 1st Test against Zimbabwe
Fast bowler Henry took six for 39 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 149 after winning the toss and deciding to bat. New Zealand were 92 for no wicket at the close, with Devon Conway and Will Young unbeaten on 51 and 41 respectively. Henry, who was voted best player of a Twenty20 tri-series tournament which ended on Saturday, did not take long to adjust to red ball cricket in New Zealand's first Test since December last year. Henry dismissed both Zimbabwe opening batsmen, Brian Bennett (6) and Ben Curran (13) inside the first seven overs. He took two more wickets in an over interrupted by the lunch break, then came back to finish off the innings with his final two victims shortly after tea. Seamer Nathan Smith took three for 20 in 14 tight overs. Captain Craig Ervine, who took 23 balls to score his first run, top-scored for Zimbabwe with 39, eked out over 116 deliveries. Ervine and Nick Welch (27) put on 36 for the fourth wicket after Zimbabwe were reeling at 31 for three. But Henry returned for the last over before lunch to have Welch caught at second slip. Three balls later, after lunch, he had the experienced Sikandar Raza caught behind for two. Ervine and wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga (30) added 54 for the sixth wicket to lift Zimbabwe from 69 for five. Smith trapped both batsmen leg before wicket shortly before tea and Zimbabwe's resistance crumbled. In reply Conway and Young batted through to the close of play, scoring steadily after a cautious start. Zimbabwe opening bowler Blessing Muzarabani had an opening spell of eight overs but was unable to make a breakthrough. Conway reached his fifty in the penultimate over of the day, his first Test half-century since he made 76 against India in Pune last October. Seven innings since then had yielded a highest score of 22. Zimbabwe have played eight Tests since New Zealand last played a Test but have lost six, drawn one and had a single victory, against Bangladesh in Sylhet in April.
France 24
8 hours ago
- France 24
India's Gill says Oval groundsman caused 'unnecessary' row
Gambhir shared terse words on Tuesday with Lee Fortis at the Oval, the London venue for the fifth Test. India trail 2-1 in the series ahead of the deciding match, which starts on Thursday. Former India batsman Gambhir was caught on camera wagging his finger as Fortis towered over him, repeatedly stating: "You can't tell us what to do." Gambhir was also heard adding: "You're just the groundsman, nothing beyond." Surrey groundsman Fortis is understood to have been keeping a protective eye on the playing area during India's practice session, with plenty of cricket still to be played on it this season. But India have insisted they simply wanted to have a look at the pitch and had done nothing to spark any kind of reaction from Fortis. "What happened yesterday, I thought, is just absolutely unnecessary. I mean, it's not the first time that we were having a look at the wicket," Gill said on Wednesday. The skipper, who has scored 722 runs in the four Tests so far, added: "As a captain, I don't know what the fuss was all about." The series has become increasingly heated, with India refusing to shake hands on a draw early in the fourth Test in Manchester to allow Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja to reach centuries, a decision that angered England. Gill previously accused England of ignoring the "spirit of cricket" with time-wasting tactics in the third Test at Lord's, where India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was fined for the aggressive send-off he gave to Ben Duckett. But he said the incidents were not connected. "I think I have already explained what happened at Lord's and about even the incident that happened on the last day in the previous Test," he said. "Both the teams have been very competitive. And sometimes when you are competitive, you know, in the heat of the moment, you do or say things that you might not do (otherwise). "But I think once the match is over, there is mutual respect between both the teams." Despite India's superb rearguard action to earn a draw in Manchester, Gambhir remains under pressure. Since he took over as head coach, India have won just two and lost eight out of 12 Tests.
