Friday 16 October 2015 12:45, UK
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has recalled his big guns for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against France in Cardiff.
Richie McCaw, Julian Savea and Sam Whitelock, who all sat out the final Pool game against Tonga, are restored to the starting XV.
Winger Waisake Naholo, who started against Tonga, drops out of the squad, with Savea restored to the left wing.
Skipper McCaw - rested against the Tongans because of a sore hip - returns at openside in place of Sam Cane, who drops to the bench.
Whitelock, as expected, returns to the second row in place of Luke Romano who is left out of the matchday 23.
With veteran Tony Woodock ruled out of the World Cup by injury, Hansen has picked Wyatt Crockett as his loosehead prop.
The teams met in the 2007 quarter-finals on the same ground, France famously prevailing 20-18 in a bruising and controversial match.
"All Blacks-French Tests are always intense affairs and we expect this weekend to be no different," said Hansen. "The French will be very physical and both teams have plenty to play for.
"We're at the time in the tournament where the big boys have to step up to the plate and the team that does this the best will move through to the next round. It's as simple as that. We can't wait."
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan 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 (c), 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.
