HOLDERS NEW ZEALAND HAVE named their most experienced ever World Cup knockout line-up ahead of this Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against France.
Steve Hansen has made four changes from the side that routed Tonga in the final game of the pool stages, with Wyatt Crockett, Brodie Retallick, Richie McCaw and Julian Savea all coming back into the side, with the team’s 988 caps settling a new record in the knockout stages of the tournament.
It means that Sonny Bill Williams must again settle for a place on the bench, with Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu getting the starting shirts in the centre.
As usual Aaron Smith and Dan Carter link up in the half-backs, while Julian Savea coimes back into the starting side on the wing, he replaces Waisake Naholo who drops out of the 23.
In the pack there are three changes. One is enforced, as Wyatt Crockett starts at loosehead in place of the injured Tony Woodcock.
Brodie Retallick returns to the second row in place of Luke Romano, while Richie McCaw slots in for Sam Cane at openside flanker.
Captain McCaw and Dan Carter are the only survivors from France’s famous upset of the All Blacks in Cardiff in 2007, with this Saturday’s reunion set for the same venue.
New Zealand (v France)
15. Ben Smith
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
13. Conrad Smith
12. Ma’a Nonu
11. Julian Savea
10. Daniel Carter
9. Aaron Smith
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (captain)
8. Kieran Read
Replacements:
16. Keven Mealamu
17. Joe Moody
18. Charlie Faumuina
19. Victor Vito
20. Sam Cane
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Sonny Bill Williams
