The All Blacks have made four changes to their starting line-up for Saturday's second Test in a bid to prevent the first home series loss to France in 15 years.

The return from injuries of Conrad Smith at outside centre and Jerome Kaino at blindside flanker brings some needed experience back to the side that lost the first Test 27-22 at the weekend.

Reserve openside flanker Tanerau Latimer has been promoted off the bench after Adam Thomson broke a bone in his hand and hooker Keven Mealamu also comes out of the reserves after Andrew Hore injured a rib cartilage.

With flanker Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo still injured, the All Blacks loose forwards still have a makeshift look about them after France dominated the breakdown in the Dunedin Test.

"It'll be a challenge for them, they're coming together as a new combo," assistant coach Steve Hansen told journalists.

But he added Kaino was a valuable addition to the side and Kieran Read - who moves to No.8 - and Latimer were improving.

He said it was unfair that the loose forwards should be singled out for criticism after the first Test.

"For them to work in any rugby game, your tight five have got to do the job and you've got to go forward.

"A number of people didn't play well last week because the French didn't allow us to and we didn't front up, and we have got to front up as a tight five and do the job."

No.8 Liam Messam is the biggest casualty from the first Test, being dropped altogether from the 22 chosen for Saturday.

"Liam's got to get more consistent. He's a real athlete, he can do some wonderful things and he can do some silly things," Hansen said.

"That's something he's working on."

Isaia Toeva has dropped to the reserves to make way for Smith, who joins his Wellington Hurricanes team mate Ma'a Nonu in the centres.

"He's a talker, he's a leader and he's had very good form through the year, so it's good to have an experienced player like him coming back," coach Graham Henry said of Smith.

Chiefs hooker Aled de Malmanche and Crusaders flanker George Whitelock have been called into the All Blacks' reserves bench.

Henry said the All Blacks were more prepared following Saturday's loss, when they were outmuscled and outdefended by France.

"The loss always brings the best out of people, makes them more determined, have greater edge, but also having more time together... time is an important factor too," he said.

Team: Mils Muliaina (capt), Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Tanerau Latimer, Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Res: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Bryn Evans, George Whitelock, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava.

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