France are hoping to avoid a 3-nil series loss to the All Blacks in Hamilton on Saturday night. Photo: Photosport
All Blacks v France
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 19 July
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
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France coach Fabien Galthie has overhauled his starting lineup, making nine changes for the series finale against the All Blacks in Hamilton on Saturday night as Les Bleus aim to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
Tour captain Gael Fickou, who is the most-capped player in the squad (95 caps), and Rabah Slimani are back in the team after they both missed the second test last weekend, at centre and prop respectively.
Antoine Hastoy, who was named on the bench for the first two tests, will start at first-five alongside scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec, who is set to play his third consecutive match as a starter as is winger Theo Attissogbe.
In contrast to the first two tests, no uncapped player is part of the squad.
France opened the tour with a narrow 31-27 defeat in Dunedin before suffering a heavy 43-17 loss in the second test in Wellington.
France: 1. Baptiste Erdocio, 2. Pierre Bourgarit, 3. Rabah Slimani, 4. Hugo Auradou, 5. Matthias Halagahu, 6. Alexandre Fischer, 7. Joshua Brennan, 8. Mickaël Guillard, 9. Nolann Le Garrec, 10. Antoine Hastoy, 11. Gabin Villière, 12. Gaël Fickou (c), 13. Nicolas Depoortère, 14. Théo Attissogbé, 15. Léo Barré
Bench: 16. Gaëtan Barlot, 17. Paul Mallez, 18. Demba Bamba, 19. Romain Taofifénua, 20. Killian Tixeront, 21. Pierre Bochaton, 22. Thibault Daubagna, 23. Émilien Gailleton
Fabien Galthie Photo: Photosport
-Reuters
