All Blacks' selectors double down in bid for accuracy in second Test

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has doubled down on his most experimental selection of the first Test, with Tupou Vaa'i again starting at blindside flanker in the second Test against France and Patrick Tuipulotu predictably replacing injured skipper Scott Barrett.

Vaa'i, who has vastly more experience at lock, had a solid game in the No.6 jersey in Dunedin, and it is clear that Robertson wants to keep big changes to a minimum in the absence of captain Barrett, and right wing Sevu Reece, ruled out early after a head injury last weekend.

Rieko Ioane starts on the right wing as Reece's replacement, with Caleb Clarke on the left wing in his first Test of the year.

Billy Proctor retains his place at centre.

Openside flanker Ardie Savea will captain the team.

Perhaps the most significant of the three changes takes place on the reserves bench, with back-up midfielder Quinn Tupaea dropping out and Timoci Tavatavanawai in line to make his Test debut after being named there alongside Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie.

Otherwise, Robertson's line-up is unchanged from the at-times scratchy 31-27 victory under the roof. Robertson will this week stress the need for accuracy in what will be very different conditions at the Cake Tin, and clearly he believes the best way to achieve that is by keeping combinations in place.

It is a win for 22-year-old lock Fabian Holland, who distinguished himself on debut on his home pitch in the deep south, and he deserves another crack at a French team which pushed the All Blacks all the way and will be disappointed they weren't more accurate in the final minutes when chasing what would have been a spectacular and significant victory.

It must be said, though, that France were helped by the All Blacks' three disallowed tries, with television match official Damon Murphy overturning all three.

Beauden Barrett will again pull the strings at first-five, with McKenzie, on within a minute in Dunedin as Reece's replacement, predictably dropping back to the bench to add balance and, potentially, impact in the second half.

“Test series are a unique and exciting opportunity. Both teams now have a better idea of what they’re going to get on Saturday night, and both will lift for this next occasion. We know where we need to improve,” Robertson said.

“It is also awesome to be part of a double-header with the Black Ferns, who will take on Australia at 4:30pm. We’ve enjoyed connecting with the team this week and know they will put on a spectacle for the fans at Sky Stadium, in their last domestic game before the Rugby World Cup.”

A win this weekend would see the All Blacks awarded the Dave Gallaher Trophy for the first time since 2018. The trophy is named after the 1905–06 All Black captain who was killed in Belgium during World War I.

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets; * denotes debutant)

1. Ethan de Groot (30), 2. Codie Taylor (97) (Vice-Captain), 3. Fletcher Newell (23), 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (51), 5. Fabian Holland (1), 6. Tupou Vaa’i (39), 7. Ardie Savea (95) (Captain), 8. Christian Lio-Willie (1), 9. Cam Roigard (11), 10. Beauden Barrett (135), 11. Caleb Clarke (29), 12. Jordie Barrett (69) (Vice-Captain), 13. Billy Proctor (3), 14. Rieko Ioane (82), 15. Will Jordan (42).

Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (31), 17. Ollie Norris (1), 18. Pasilio Tosi (8), 19. Samipeni Finau (9), 20. Du’Plessis Kirifi (1), 21. Cortez Ratima (12), 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai *, 23. Damian McKenzie (62).

Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams (knee); Tyrel Lomax (calf); Wallace Sititi (ankle); Luke Jacobson (concussion); Sevu Reece (concussion); Scott Barrett (calf).