LONDON – All Blacks’ Coach Steve Hansen has stuck to what he knows in selecting his All Black team to play France in their quarter final in Cardiff on Saturday evening.
It’s a very familiar team, however one very important and experienced name is missing with prop Tony Woodcock who has been replaced by Wyatt Crockett. On the bench, Sam Cane and Victor Vito are the replacement back rowers with Joe Moody also set to make his first World Cup appearance after coming in to the squad to replace Woodcock.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow gets the nod ahead of TJ Perenara as the back up to Aaron Smith who will start his 45th test match and will be partnered by Dan Carter in the halves.
The media has been concerned with a lot of talk regarding the 2011 Rugby World Cup final rematch as well as their doomed 2007 quarter final clash where they were trounced. However Hansen has seemed to have not let the talk get to him after naming this very experienced, and very predictable All Black line-up.
All Black team to play France
1 W Crockett
2 D Coles
3 O Franks
4 B Retallick
5 S Whitelock
6 J Kaino
7 R McCaw
8 K Read
9 A Smith
10 D Carter
11 J Savea
12 M Nonu
13 C Smith
14 N Milner-Scudder
15 B Smith
Reserves
16 K Mealamu 17 J Moody 18 C Faumuina 19 V Vito 20 S Cane 21 T Kerr-Barlow 22 B Barrett 23 S Bill Williams
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