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The All Blacks have recalled their captain Richie McCaw for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
With France having upset the All Blacks at the 1999 and 2007 World Cups, the coach Steve Hansen has chosen a side rich in experience and including four men to have been named World Player of the Year in McCaw, Dan Carter, Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read.
McCaw was rested from the world champions’ final pool game against Tongabecause of a sore hip but returns at openside flanker to win his 146th cap in place of Sam Cane, who drops to the bench.
“All Blacks-French tests are always intense affairs and we expect this weekend to be no different,” Hansen said.
“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.”
Julian Savea returns on the left wing in place of Waisake Naholo. The explosive Nehe Milner-Skudder is on the opposite wing and the full-back Ben Smith completes a potent back three.
Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith reprise their centre partnership, with Sonny Bill Williams named among the replacements for the rematch of the 2011 final.
Carter, who missed New Zealand’s triumphant march to the title four years ago because of injury, retains his place at fly-half to win his 110th cap and Beauden Barrett provides back-up from the bench.
The starting team features only one enforced change from the side Hansen put out in the All Blacks’ opening match against Argentina, with Wyatt Crockett replacing Tony Woodcock at prop after the loosehead was ruled out of the tournament by a hamstring injury.
B Smith; N Milner-Skudder, C Smith, M Nonu, J Savea; D Carter, A Smith; K Read, R McCaw (capt), J Kaino, S Whitelock, B Retallick, O Franks, D Coles, W Crockett.
Replacements K Mealamu, J Moody, C Faumuina, V Vito, S Cane, T Kerr-Barlow, B Barrett, SB Williams.
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