All Blacks v France Kick-off: 9:10am Sunday 17 November Stade de France, Paris Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Analysis - It says a lot that Scott Robertson has justifiably benched his two best performing players from last weekend. Asafo Aumua and Damian McKenzie are in the reserves for Sunday morning's clash with France, two of five changes to the starting team that beat Ireland 23-13 in an often grinding test match in Dublin. Aumua's lineout throwing and McKenzie's goal kicking were literally the difference between winning and losing, but with Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett fit again, Robertson has rolled the two veterans back in.
That's the luxury the All Blacks have right now. This tour was always going to have a high attrition rate, with six players ruled out of this test, but really this side isn't losing an awful lot with the injury-enforced changes. With the loose forward reshuffle, many social media comments sections should now be satisfied with Ardie Savea's shift back to openside and the subsequent switch for Wallace Sititi to the number eight position he starred in for the Chiefs.
Really though, this is Samipeni Finau's chance to prove that he's not a flat track bully. Finau has only started one test since the England series and hasn't really translated his blockbusting Super Rugby Pacific reputation to test level yet, but in fairness it took a bit of perseverance with Shanon Frizell to do the same. Sevu Reece is pretty lucky to find himself back in the starting .
