INTENSITY HAS been a key word in the All Blacks camp this week ahead of their must-win Test against France at Westpac Stadium tomorrow morning.
The All Blacks coaches admitted their side had been outplayed by the physical French 27-22 in Dunedin last week and would need to step up in Wellington to avoid becoming the second New Zealand side to lose a home series to France.
The 1994 French team won that series 2-0, with the second match at Eden Park in Auckland decided by a length-of-the-field try that was described as coming “from the end of the world”.
“We are trying to raise the bar and raise the intensity this week as we should be,” assistant All Blacks coach Wayne Smith said. “The players are fine about it. Their lives are centred around winning, they’ll do anything.”
New Zealand made three changes to their starting side, bringing back Conrad Smith at centre and Jerome Kaino at blindside flanker. Both missed the first game through minor injuries and will replace utility back Isaia Toeava and loose forward Liam Messam respectively.
Openside flanker Tanerau Latimer will also make his first start, allowing the loose forward combination to have more balance with the return of Kaino and shifting of Kieran Read from blindside flanker to number eight.
Adam Thomson played openside flanker last week but was ruled out with a broken hand, while Messam was number eight. Thomson, Read and Messam all played blindside for their Super 14 teams.
France have also made three changes with centre Maxime Mermoz replacing Mathieu Bastareaud, while Nicholas Mas – a late arrival after his Perpignan side won the French club final – will start at tighthead prop in place of Sylvain Marconnet.
Sebastien Chabal, normally a loose forward, will start at lock, replacing Pascal Pape.
NEW ZEALAND:M Muliaina (capt); C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, J Rokocoko; S Donald, J Cowan; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, N Tialata, B Thorn, I Ross, J Kaino, T Latimer, K Read.
FRANCE:M Medard; V Clerc, M Mermoz, D Traille, C Heymans; F Trinh-Duc, J Dupuy; F Barcella, W Servat, N Mas, S Chabal, R Millo-Chluski, T Dusautoir (capt), F Ouedraogo, L Picamoles.
Venue:Westpac Stadium Kick-off:8.35am tomorrow On TV:Sky Sports 1
