Damien Traille has been given the starting job at fullback when the French XV to play New Zealand in Marseille on Saturday night was named.

The return of the veteran Biarritz player is one of seven changes, one positional made by coach Marc Lievremont from the side that defeated Samoa 45-3 in Paris last Saturday.

He replaces Maxime Medard, who was outstanding against the South Pacific Islanders and who gets the nod on the wing in a back line that includes two other Toulouse players in record try scorer Vincent Clerc and the powerful Yannick Jauzion.

At half-back Francois Trinh-Duc of Montpellier fills the No.10 shirt for the third straight game and renews his partnership with Julien Dupuy of Stade Francais.

In the pack, William Servat comes in at hooker for Dimitri Szarzewski, while Fabien Barcella, who starred in the 20-13 win over world champions South Africa in the first of four November Tests, returns at prop.

Sebastien Chabal, who enjoyed a strong game against Samoa, retains his position at lock and will be partnered by the rising Romain Millo-Chluski of Toulouse.

In the back row, Fulgence Ouedrago returns from injury alongside No.8 Julien Bonnaire and skipper Thierry Dusautoir.

Lievremont said that the choice of players for the finale to the Test series had been difficult after the top performances against the Springboks and Samoa, but that injuries to such as Louis Picamoles, Imanol Harinordoquy, Maxime Mermoz and Benjamin Fall had reduced the options available to him.

"I've read here and there that France will be favourites for this match. Maybe so, but all that I know is that New Zealand in their last few games have been impressive and are back to an exceptional level and they will also have revenge against France on their minds," he said referring to France's 27-22 win in Dunedin in June.

The France XV to play New Zealand at Marseille on Saturday

Damien Traille (Biarritz); Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), David Marty (Perpignan), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Maxime Medard (Toulouse); Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Julien Dupuy (Stade Francais); Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt); Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Sebastien Chabal (Racing-Metro); Sylvain Marconnet (Perpignan), William Servat (Toulouse), Fabien Barcella (Biarritz). Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Julien Puricelli (Bayonne), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Yann David (Toulouse), Cedric Heymans (Toulouse), Thomas Domingo (Clermont)

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP