CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, 27 June 2003 — New Zealand and France will be looking for useful World Cup pointers when they clash here tomorrow.
France are coming off two straight losses to Argentina while the All Blacks followed up their defeat to England with a win over Six Nations wooden spooners Wales.
The last time these teams played each other it ended 20-20 in Paris when the All Blacks had three players sin-binned and French fly-half Francois Gelez missed a last minute match-winning penalty.
Since 1990, France have won five matches to New Zealand’s four.
New Zealand and France have played in Christchurch on seven previous occasions, with New Zealand winning six of those matches. France were successful on their most recent visit, however, winning 22-8 in the first Test of the 1994 series.
France coach Bernard Laporte made seven changes to the starting XV that lost the second Test in Buenos Aires before Vincent Clerc was reinstated for the injured wing Christophe Dominici.
Prop Nicolas Mas will make his Test debut, while 20-year-old Frederic Michalak replaces the injured Yann Delaigue at fly-half, with Gerald Merceron among the replacements just 48 hours after flying in.
The other changes see Clement Poitrenaud replacing Pepito Elhorga at full-back, while number eight Elvis Vermeulen, flanker Patrick Tabacco and lock Lionel Nallet also make the starting line-up.
Mas comes in for South African-born Pieter de Villiers, athough the 23-year-old has his work cut out to make France’s World Cup squad. Nallet, who last played a Test two years ago, takes over from David Auradou.
Vermeulen, who has played only two Tests, replaces Christian Labit while Tabacco deputizes for Sebastian Chabal.
New Zealand coach John Mitchell has made four changes — all in the forwards.
