New Zealand v France:New Zealand were far from satisfied with their crushing win over France in the first Test and are looking for an improved effort in Wellington today, skipper Richie McCaw said.
The All Blacks failed to hit top gear in the 42-11 triumph over a weakened France in Auckland, and McCaw, who hobbled off at half-time with a hip problem, said a big winning margin would not necessarily be the most significant factor at Westpac Stadium.
"What we win by, or if we win, on Saturday is going to come second to a better performance than last week. Our scrum was dominant but we didn't get good quality ball from it and our lineout went okay but we only got some quality ball from it."
Coach Graham Henry made six changes to the side that won at Eden Park, before an ankle injury to outhalf Dan Carter ruled him out. Nick Evans comes in at number nine.
Flanker Jerry Collins, number eight Rodney So'oialo, lock Keith Robinson and hooker Anton Oliver are added to the forwards while scrumhalf Byron Kelleher and centre Luke McAlister join Evans in a reshuffled back line.
France make four changes. Prop Olivier Sourgens and inside centre Lionel Mazars get Test debuts. Flanker Damien Chouly is added to the pack while wing Julien Laharrague is back after being dropped for the first Test for missing training.
The All Blacks are hot favourites again. But the apparent gulf in class has not stopped the teams trading insults. France coach Bernard Laporte poked fun at New Zealand's failure to add to their single World Cup success in 1987 when he likened them to a grand prix driver that starts on pole but does not win the race.
Henry hit back with claims the French had been faking injuries in the first Test to slow the game down and stop their opponents from piling on more points.
Wellington, today 8.30am, On TV: Sky Sports 2
Argentina v Italy. Mendoza, today 6.30pm
Italy will be looking for their second consecutive win on Argentine soil when they meet the Pumas in Mendoza today.
The Italians upset Argentina 30-29 in Cordoba in 2005 but a repeat would be a big surprise when two second-string sides lock horns at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium, 1,000 kilometres west of Buenos Aires.
Coaches Marcelo Loffreda and Pierre Berbizier will field untested halfback pairings, Argentina giving Marcelo Bosch his first cap at outhalf alongside experienced scrumhalf Nicolas Fernandez Miranda.
For Italy, Christopher Burton wins his second cap at outhalf after playing at fullback against Uruguay, in partnership with Pablo Canavosio, usually a wing.
Australia v Fiji. Perth, today 11am. On TV: Sky Sports 2
George Gregan and Stephen Larkham will be reunited for one of the last times when Australia lock horns with Fiji in a one-off Test at Perth today.
The pair have been automatic selections in the Australian team for the past decade but are both in their final year of Test rugby.
Their enduring partnership is in danger of being broken up after John Connolly began experimenting with Matt Giteau at scrumhalf but the coach is still unsure the plan will work.
Scrumhalf Gregan was among 10 changes to the starting team that beat Wales 31-0 in Brisbane last week to wrap up the series after winning 29-23 in Sydney.
Fijian-born winger Lote Tuqiri will make his first Test appearance this year while Queensland lock James Horwill (22) will be the fourth Australian to make his Test debut in three weeks.
South Africa v Samoa. Johannesburg, today 2pm
A new-look South African side will hope to impress coach Jake White in a one-off international against Samoa in Johannesburg today.
White has made 13 changes to the starting team that completed a 2-0 series win over England last weekend, resting most of his first-choice players and handing a debut to flanker Luke Watson.
The Springboks will field their least experienced back line since 1994, with just 50 caps in all.
Today's Test line-ups
NEW ZEALAND:MacDonald; Rokocoko, Toeava, McAlister, Sivivatu; Evans, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman; Robinson, Williams; Collins, McCaw (capt), So'oialo. Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, Jack, Masoe, Leonard, Nonu, Howlett.
FRANCE:Castaignede, Laharrague, Mignardi, Mazars, Coux; Boyet, Durand; Califano, Bruno, Sourgens; Pape, Pierre; Chouly, Magne, Chabal. Replacements: Ibanez, Mas, Olibeau, Ouedraogo, Forest, Laharrague, Thiery.
Referee:Craig Joubert (South Africa)
ARGENTINA:Serra; Agulla, Gaitan, Manuel Contepomi, Leonelli; Bosch, Miranda; Henn, Gambarini, Hasan; Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Carizza; Durand (capt), Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Leguizamon. Replacements: Guinazu, Bonorino, Alvarez, Schusterman, Vergallo, Miranda, de Vedia.
ITALY:Bortolussi; Robertson, Galante, Stoica, Pratichetti; Burton, Canavosio; Lo Cicero (capt), Ongaro, Nieto; Del Fava, Bernabo; Sole, Mandelli, Barbieri. Replacements: Festuccia, Aguero, Staibano, Pavanello, Orlando, Griffen, Galon
Referee:Lyndon Bray (New Zealand).
AUSTRALIA:Huxley, Mitchell, Ashley-Cooper, Staniforth, Tuqiri; Larkham, Gregan; Dunning, Freier, Baxter; Horwill, Vickerman; Chisholm, Waugh (capt), Lyons. Replacements: Moore, Robinson, Hoiles, Smith, Cordingley, Norton-Knight, Mortlock.
FIJI:Vakacegu; Luveitasau, Goneva, Lovobalavu, Neivua; Tora, Rauluni; Dewes, Koto, Qiodravu; Rawaqa, Leawere; Satala, Qera, Doviverata (capt). Replacements: Gadolo, Turukawa, Lewaravu, Soqeta, Buatava, Prasad, Rawaqa.
Referee:Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
SOUTH AFRICA:Steyn; Willemse, Murray, Julies, Pietersen; Hougaard, Januarie; Du Randt, Smit (capt), BJ Botha; Ackermann, Van den Berg; Watson, Rossouw, Skinstad. Replacements: Carstens, Gary Botha, Muller, Wannenburg, Pienaar, Fourie, Montgomery.
SAMOA:Williams; Fa'atau, Tuilagi, Mapusua, Tuilagi; Crichton, So'oalo; Va'a, Schwalger, Johnston; Thompson, Filipo Levi; Leo, Purdie, Sititi (capt). Replacements: Salanoa, Kerslake, Tekori, Vaeluaga, Poluleuligaga, Sevealii, David Levi.
Referee:Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
