Big changes to French team to play All Blacks

Halfback Morgan Parra returns to the French team for the first test against the All Blacks tomorrow.

Parra last played for France in the 2015 World Cup.

The side, named today, contains only four players from the starting team in France's last Six Nations match, the loss to Wales in Cardiff in March.

Coach Jacques Brunel has also chosen Toulouse back Max Medard, who has not worn the blue jersey since the 2016 tour of Argentina, lock Yoann Maestri and New Zealand-born prop Uini Atonio, missing in the Tricolores for a year.

France will be led by controversial back Mathieu Bastareaud, in the absence of the usual captain Guilhem Guirado.

The team is: Maxime Medard, Teddy Thomas, Mathieu Bastareaud (c), Geoffrey Doumayrou, Remy Grosso, Anthony Belleau, Morgan Parra, Kevin Gourdon, Fabien Sanconnie, Judicael Cancoriet, Yoann Maestri, Paul Gabrillagues, Uini Atonio, Camille Chat, Dany Priso.
Replacements: Adrien Pélissié, Cyril Baille, Rabah Slimani, Bernard Le Roux, Alexandre Lapandry, Baptiste Serin, Jules Plisson, Gael Fickou.