Fabien Galthie has made eight changes to the France team for Saturdayโs third and final Test against the All Blacks in Hamilton.
The shake-up comes after last weekโs 43-17 thumping in Wellington, with six players recalled who featured in the narrow 31-27 loss in the first Test in Dunedin.
Veteran centre Gael Fickou returns as captain, joined by experienced prop Rabah Slimani and dynamic loose forwards Mickael Guillard and Alexandre Fischer.
CATCH UP: Razor shuffles the deck
Despite criticism of his inexperienced touring squad โ which includes 22 uncapped players โ Galthie is standing firm.
โThis is the best possible team,โ he told reporters on Thursday, addressing critics of a vastly inexperienced line-up for the second Test.
โItโs a difficult time for the team, we hear whatโs being said. Itโs part of the game but our determination is redoubled.โ
Replacement prop Demba Bamba is the only player in Galthieโs 23-man match-day squad in Hamilton making his first appearance of the tour.
Scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec and wing Theo Attissogbe will have started in all three Tests while seven players wonโt have taken to the playing field at all.
Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
La ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐๐ pour ce dernier match face aux All Blacks !
Rendez-vous samedi ร 9h05 sur @canalplus !
#XVdeFrance | @AltradR pic.twitter.com/Bv8HUAGFbj
โ France Rugby (@FranceRugby) July 17, 2025
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