Philippe Saint-André has made three changes to the France team for this weekend’s World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in Cardiff, from the side that was defeated so meekly by Ireland last weekend.

Mathieu Bastareaud is dropped from the centres with Alexandre Dumoulin starting in his place, while Morgan Parra starts at half-back with Freddie Michalak. In the pack, the more mobile Bernard le Roux is preferred to Damien Chouly on the flank.

FRANCE TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND

15. Scott Spedding 14. Noa Nakaitaci 13. Alexandre Dumoulin 12. Wesley Fofana 11. Brice Dulin 10. Freddie Michalak 9. Morgan Parra; 1. Eddy Ben Arous 2. Guilhem Guirado 3. Rabah Slmiani 4. Pascal Papé 5. Yoann Maestri 6. Thierry Dusautoir 7. Bernard le Roux 8. Louis Picamoles

Replacements: 16. Dimitri Szarzewski 17. Nicolas Mas 18. Vincent Debaty 19. Damien Chouly 20. Yannick Nyanga 21. Rory Kockott 22. Remi Tales 23. Mathieu Bastareaud

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images