New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor have returned to the side to face France in Paris on Saturday, having recovered after concussion forced them off against England two weeks ago.
The pair have successfully completed head injury assessment protocols and were included in the team named on Thursday, but a knock suffered by former captain Sam Cane means he is out of the lineup after the All Blacks edged Ireland last Friday.
In all there are five changes to the starting side from the test in Dublin which they won 23-13.
Barrett takes over from Damian McKenzie at fly-half while Taylor replaces Asafo Aumua at hooker.
Taylor was withdrawn inside the first six minutes at Twickenham on Nov. 2 for a head injury assessment, while Barrett was taken off 16 minutes from time after also suffering a knock to the head.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said deliberating with his fellow selectors to decide between Barrett and McKenzie had been tough.
“It’s a great discussion to have when you’ve got two number 10s in form and both good tacticians, both kicking well. One thing about D-Mac (McKenzie) is he’s probably the best off the bench in the world. When he comes on, he can change the game,” said Robertson at a press conference on Thursday.
Cane’s concussion means a shift in the loose forward trio for the Stade de France clash with Wallace Sititi moving back to number eight, Ardie Savea going onto the open side of the scrum where Cane played last week and Samipeni Finau coming in on the blindside.
Savea has not played for New Zealand on the open side for the last three years but Robertson had no hesitation in making the switch.
“He’s played there for Kobe (his Japanese club side) all season, and he’s finished a few Tests for us there. He’s experienced and will slot straight into it.”
A hand injury means Mark Tele’a vacates his place on the right wing with Sevu Reece taking over.
The other change to the starting team is at scrum-half with Cam Roigard’s strong performance off the bench against Ireland seeing him chosen ahead of Cortez Ratima, who drops to the bench.
“He’s taken his opportunities and we believe this is the match for him,” Robertson said of Roigard. “Just with game management because there’ll be a fair bit of kicking if the match goes to plan for both teams.”
New Zealand have won their opening two Tests in the November international schedule with a narrow 24-22 victory over England followed by the win over Ireland last week.
NEW ZEALAND:
Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea, Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett (capt.), Tyrel Lomax, Cody Taylor, Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie
