Fabien Galthie has made eight changes to the France team for Saturday’s third and final Test against the All Blacks in Hamilton.
The shake-up comes after last week’s 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.
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Despite criticism of his inexperienced touring squad – which includes 22 uncapped players – Galthie is standing firm.
“This is the best possible team,” he told reporters on Thursday, addressing critics of a vastly inexperienced line-up for the second Test.
“It’s a difficult time for the team, we hear what’s being said. It’s part of the game but our determination is redoubled.”
Replacement prop Demba Bamba is the only player in Galthie’s 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 won’t have taken to the playing field at all.
Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
🇳🇿🇫🇷 La 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘂𝘀 pour ce dernier match face aux All Blacks !
Rendez-vous samedi à 9h05 sur @canalplus ! 🔥#XVdeFrance | @AltradR pic.twitter.com/Bv8HUAGFbj
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) July 17, 2025