This has the look of a full-scale examination. On Saturday 4 July in Christchurch, France open the first edition of the Nations Championship against the All Blacks on their own turf. Back-to-back winners of the last Six Nations, France have not won in New Zealand since 2009.

A younger squad, without the Top 14 finalists

The first match comes only seven days after the Top 14 final. As a result, the nine finalists called up as reinforcements, from Romain Ntamack to Alexandre Roumat, will not play in this one; they will, however, be available against Australia on 11 July and then Japan on the 18th. Toulouse hooker Peato Mauvaka, whom the staff had hoped to name on the bench, will not be fit to play after all. Antoine Dupont is injured and out for the whole tour.

Eight Bordeaux players, Penaud and Poirot return

Fabien Galthié has built a heavily Bordeaux-flavoured XV, with eight UBB players starting. The half-back pairing is all Bordeaux-Bègles: Maxime Lucu, named captain, partners Matthieu Jalibert at fly-half. Up front, the back row is built around Pierre Bochaton and Oscar Jégou, with 21-year-old Marko Gazzotti at No. 8.

Two notable returns light up the team sheet. Out wide, Damian Penaud, France’s all-time leading try-scorer, comes back after missing the Six Nations. In the front row, loosehead prop Jefferson Poirot pulls on the blue shirt again six years after ending his international career, alongside hooker Maxime Lamothe and tighthead Demba Bamba. In midfield, Fabien Brau-Boirie partners Yoram Moefana.

“The best France team available right now”

Fabien Galthié did not dodge the context when presenting his 23. “This is not a France team, since we only have four starters from the last Six Nations, but it is the best France team available right now,” the head coach said.

A 5-3 bench

Another notable call: the staff have dropped the customary 6-2 bench (six forwards, two backs) in favour of a more conventional 5-3. With no specialist lineout lock available among the replacements, Fabien Galthié is banking on the versatility of Mickaël Guillard, “able to cover three positions”, and on jumper Killian Tixeront.

The team sheets

France. 15. Max Spring; 14. Damian Penaud, 13. Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Théo Attissogbe; 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Maxime Lucu (capt.); 8. Marko Gazzotti, 7. Oscar Jégou, 6. Pierre Bochaton; 5. Tom Staniforth, 4. Hugo Auradou; 3. Demba Bamba, 2. Maxime Lamothe, 1. Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: Barnabé Massa, Reda Wardi, Régis Montagne, Mickaël Guillard, Killian Tixeront, Nolann Le Garrec, Antoine Hastoy, Nicolas Depoortere.

New Zealand. 15. Damian McKenzie; 14. Will Jordan, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 12. Jordie Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke; 10. Ruben Love, 9. Cam Roigard; 8. Ardie Savea (capt.), 7. Luke Jacobson, 6. Peter Lakai; 5. Sam Darry, 4. Josh Lord; 3. Fletcher Newell, 2. Codie Taylor, 1. Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Billy Proctor, Fehi Fineanganofo.

Kick-off on Saturday 4 July at 9.10am French time, at the One NZ Stadium in Christchurch, live on TF1.

Seventeen years of waiting

There is more at stake than an opening fixture. Swept aside in all three tests on the 2025 tour, France have not won a single match in New Zealand since 2009. “We have trained well to put in a very good performance,” promised Yoram Moefana, born in Wallis and raised on the cult of the All Blacks.