France coach Marc Lievremont has named scrum-half Morgan Parra at fly-half for his side's pivotal Rugby World Cup pool clash with New Zealand on Saturday.
Parra, who played at 10 for the final quarter of their opening win over Japan, takes over from Francois Trinh-Duc.
Aurelien Rougerie switches to centre with Maxime Medard back on the wing.
Dimitri Yachvili returns at scrum-half, captain Thierry Dusautoir at flanker and Lionel Nallet at lock.
Dimitri Szarzewski is preferred to William Servat at hooker, while Imanol Harinordoquy also has to settle for a place on the bench with Louis Picamoles and Julien Bonnaire joining Dusautoir in the back row.
Lievremont has been unhappy with his team's performances in the tournament to date despite taking the maximum 10 points on offer, and has made five changes in all from the side that beat Canada 46-19 on Sunday.
The most significant sees Parra, who kicked 23 points against the Canucks, making his first start at fly-half, in his 32nd Test.
Dan Carter, who is fit again after missing the All Blacks' win over Japan, is set to line up opposite Parra and the Frenchman is anticipating a tough personal battle.
"This is one of the biggest tests of my career, It's a big challenge," said Parra.
"Carter is the best in the world. I will try and match him, try and stand up to him."
After filling in for a brief stint in the position against Canada, 22-year-old Parra has played a total of just 35 minutes in the French number 10 shirt.
"I think that Francois Trinh-Duc, after two matches when he was not at his best, pays the price and on the other hand Morgan (Parra) has been quite effective," Lievremont said by way of explanation.
Trinh-Duc accepted his demotion to the replacements, admitting that he is the "only one to blame for my performances".
With both countries winning their opening two games, the winner of Saturday's clash is likely to top Pool A and meet the runner-up in Pool B - featuring England, Scotland and Argentina - in the quarter-finals.
"For us it is a great honour to play this match, which is not like any other," Lievremont added. "I hope that my players will bring to it all the passion they have and that they will make us pround of them.
"The summit of it all would be to play the All Blacks again later in the World Cup final at Eden Park."
France team: Damien Traille, Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Maxime Medard, Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, Dimitri Szarzewski, Luc Ducalcon, Pascal Pape, Lionel Nallet, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Julien Bonnaire, Louis Picamoles.Replacements: William Servat, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Imanol Harinordoquy, Francois Trinh-Duc, Fabrice Estebanez, Cedric Heymans.
PREVIOUS RWC MEETINGS
1987: NZ 29-9 France (final)
1999: France 43-31 NZ (S/F)
2007: France 20-18 NZ (Q/F)