Scott Robertson rolls in changes for final All Blacks test against France
Photo:
Marty Melville / www.photosport.nz
Ruben Love
Photo:
Christopher Jue/ActionPress
Seven players in the 23 have been named for the first time this season, and one player is set to debut this Saturday night when the All Blacks aim to close out their July Series with a third win against France.
Scott Robertson's team has a heavy Chiefs influence for the game in Hamilton, with Damian McKenzie starting at first five in place of an injured Beauden Barrett.
Hooker Brodie McAlister will become the sixth debutant of the season if when comes off the bench to replace starting hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho.
Prop Tyrel Lomax, loose forward Luke Jacobson and backs Anton Lienert-Brown and Sevu Reece have all returned from injury to take a spot in the starting line-up, while Ruben Love will earn his second test cap playing at fullback.
In the reserves, prop George Bower, loose forward Dalton Papali'i and halfback Noah Hotham will all pull on the black jersey for the first time in 2025.
Robertson said there was a healthy edge in the camp this week, knowing that the French will throw everything at this final game of the series.
"There is high motivation and focus to perform in Hamilton this week. We are prepared for a determined and spirited French side, and excited to play in front of a passionate sold-out crowd.
"We are thrilled to welcome Tyrel, Luke, Anton and Sevu back from injury and, with 185 caps between them, we know that they will be ready to perform at the highest level. It is also exciting to have Brodie debuting, as well as Ruben, Noah and Timoci adding to their single All Blacks cap. These men have earned their place in the team, have trained extremely hard over the last three weeks, and will take their opportunity on Saturday night."
The French side will be named tonight, with Fabien Galthie widely expected to go back to the majority of players that he fielded in the first test in Dunedin.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
24 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Warriors coach calling for re-think
The Warriors have faced a stern test in their return to the NRLW and their coach is calling for the competition to re-think how travel for the women is managed. The Warriors' only win in the first three rounds of the competition came in front of their home fans in Penrose, and their latest extensive travel day to Newcastle is something coach Ron Griffiths said he doesn't want to replicate. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Govt orders Sport NZ to scrap transgender inclusion guidelines
money sport 31 minutes ago NZ First's spoken about defunding sporting bodies that support trans inclusion - but its 2023 manifesto also spoke about making people healthier by promoting exercise and sport programmes including 'assisting people into sport that can't be involved' - surely those two sentiments juxtapose each other.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Wallabies muscle up for second test against British and Irish Lions
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has made several changes to the forward pack for the second test between Australia and the British and Irish Lions. Photo: Photosport Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has added a considerable heft to his pack with the inclusion of Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and Dave Porecki in his starting line-up for Saturday's second test against the British & Irish Lions. The Wallabies were outmuscled by the tourists at the collision in the first hour of last week's loss in the series-opener in Brisbane and the return of flanker Valetini and lock Skelton from calf injuries should help in that area. Hooker Porecki missed the first-test defeat because of a concussion sustained in Australia's warm-up match against Fiji and his recall in place of Matt Faessler should help in the lineout, where the Wallabies struggled in Brisbane. Schmidt resisted making any further changes to his starting side and 22-year-old Tom Lynagh will lead an unchanged backline from first-five at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in his second test start. Flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny and Faessler have been dropped to allow the return of Valetini and Porecki, while lock Jeremy Williams remains in the matchday squad among the replacements after making way for Skelton. Schmidt has opted for a 6-2 split in favour of the forwards on the bench with the powerful Langi Gleeson also returning from injury to join flanker Carlo Tizzano as back-up for the loose forwards. "The squad has recovered well after a very physical first test and the week's preparation here in Melbourne has allowed us a bit more time together," Schmidt said in a news release. "We took some confidence from the second half last week, but we know we'll need to improve further against a Lions team that will bring plenty of fire to the contest on Saturday night." The third and final test is in Sydney on 2 August. -Reuters
