Papali’i’s promotion effectively has the All Blacks starting three openside flankers alongside Sam Cane and Ardie Savea.
“Dalton has played plenty of rugby this year. We’ve got a lot of faith in both of them we just feel for this game that way round will be good for us,” Foster said after the All Blacks arrived in the stifling French capital via the train from Lyon.
“It gives us the ability to have two guys whose instincts are at the ball but Dalton also brings strong ball carrying and he’s quick around the park. He’s been a big part of our group the last 18 months and he deserves it.”
Elsewhere in the forwards Codie Taylor returns at hooker and Nepo Laulala replaces injured tighthead Tyrel Lomax. Anton Lienert-Brown is thrust into attempting to fill Jordie Barrett’s influential void at second five-eighth after he was sidelined, for this week only, by a niggly knee.
Lienert-Brown has played one test this year and started nine of his 63 at second-five but the All Blacks are backing his experience to complement Rieko Ioane in the midfield.
“He’s craving an opportunity to show he’s got the confidence back after a disruptive couple of years. We’ve got a lot of faith in him,” Foster said. “Behind the scenes he’s worked really hard at his game.”
For now at least those significant alterations have not outwardly rocked the All Blacks. In their first press appearance in Paris Foster, Cane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea were all at ease.
As the heat raged outside the auditorium, there was no hint of sweat just yet.
Foster came prepared, even, by noting former French loose forward Olivier Magne’s column in the French press that labelled the All Blacks the “weakest in history”.
“We’re in a good place. We’ve had a good prep, a great Rugby Championship. If you look at the performances against South Africa, Australia and suddenly we’re World Cup favourites and then we don’t do well at Twickenham in a warm up game and suddenly we’re the worst All Blacks team ever. We smile at that, and we’re quite excited about where we’re at.”
Eleven All Blacks will make their World Cup debuts this weekend. Four of those – Ethan de Groot, Papali’i, Will Jordan and Mark Telea – in the starting side. Foster, though, is confident they will not be overawed in the frenzied atmosphere that awaits at Stade de France.
“I think the fact we’ve got a few that haven’t played in a World Cup is a strength. They’re excited and our goal is to make sure we don’t burden them with too much pressure so they can do what they do.”
Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard, following his impressive impact at Twickenham that included a stunning solo try, is a glaring omission from the bench with Finlay Christie instead preferred.
In their notable selection decision France have inserted Yoram Moefana to replace powerful midfielder injured Jonathan Danty.
As has been the theme of the week from the All Blacks, Foster played up the pressure on the hosts to perform.
“This French team has played some great rugby over the past four years. We’ve all seen them build. We’ve also seen them being put under pressure. They have to deal with expectations of their crowd. Part of World Cups is the mental side. It’s about having the confidence and courage to play the game you need to play at the right time. Until it all starts that’s where we’ll see where people are at.”
Cane spoke of his memories of the great France and All Blacks World Cup rivalry – the 2007 quarterfinal exit; attending the 2011 final success as a spectator and playing in the impeccable 2015 quarterfinal victory in Cardiff. As he prepares to lead the All Blacks out for the latest chapter, Cane won’t need to launch into a passionate pre-match speech.
“There will be a couple of key messages from the defensive side of the ball. A couple of key messages often from our drivers, our 10 or 15, around our attack. We’ll break it down how we want to start the game. The occasion is going to be enormous. I don’t think the group will need any firing up for it that’s for sure.”
Meanwhile, winger Emoni Narawa has been ruled out of the tournament after injuring his back during training this week in Lyon. Scans revealed a disc issue which has ruled him out for the rest of the tournament. His replacement has yet to be announced.
With ample wing cover that includes Caleb Clarke, Fainga’anuku, Telea and Jordan the All Blacks are expected to instead call in a forward replacement for Narawa.
Brodie Retallick is nearing a comeback from his injured knee but with forwards coach Jason Ryan hinting blindside flanker Shannon Frizell could miss further pool matches with his lingering hamstring issue, the All Blacks could call up an additional loose forward.
Should the All Blacks adopt that route Samipeni Finau, having debuted in Dunedin against the Wallabies, is a leading contender. Ethan Blackadder presents another standout option after he returned from injury for Tasman last weekend.
Taranaki and Chiefs lock Josh Lord is the other possible avenue the All Blacks could explore if they want second-row cover.
“We’ll weigh that up after Friday but we clearly have to make a change,” Foster said. “It could be there [wing], it could be in the loosies. Looking at the progress of Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell we’ll assess that after this weekend.”
All Blacks squad
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Codie Taylor
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Scott Barrett
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. Dalton Papali’i
7. Sam Cane (c)
8. Ardie Savea
9. Aaron Smith
10. Richie Mo’unga
11. Mark Telea
12. Anton Lienert-Brown
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Will Jordan
15. Beauden Barrett
Reserves
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Tupou Vaa’i
20. Luke Jacobson
21. Finlay Christie
22. David Havili
23. Leicester Fainga’anuku.
France squad:
1 Réda Wardi
2 Julien Marchand
3 Uini Atonio
4 Cameron Woki
5 Thibaud Flament
6 François Cros
7 Charles Ollivon
8 Grégory Alldritt
9 Antoine Dupont (captain)
10 Matthieu Jalibert
11 Gabin Villière
12 Yoram Moefana
13 Gaël Fickou
14 Damian Penaud
15 Thomas Ramos
Reserves:
16 Peato Mauvaka
17 Jean-Baptiste Gros
18 Dorian Aldegheri
19 Romain Taofifenua
20 Paul Boudehent
21 Maxime Lucu
22 Arthur Vincent
23 Melvyn Jaminet.
France v All Blacks: Kickoff 7.15am, Saturday
Follow the match at nzherald.co.nz
Elliott Smith’s live commentary on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio
Alternative Commentary Collective: iHeartRadio and Radio Hauraki
