All Blacks v France: Caleb Clarke ruled out of second test, Emoni Narawa comes into starting XV

The All Blacks have been forced into a change on the eve of their second test against France, with Caleb Clarke scratched.

The 26-year-old has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash at Sky Stadium, after suffering what the team has described as a high ankle injury on Thursday.

Clarke was in line to play his first test of the year on the left wing, after Scott Robertson was forced into the change when Sevu Reece failed a head injury assessment in last weekend’s victory in Dunedin.

Instead, Emoni Narawa will come into the starting XV for his third test cap, and force a reshuffle that sees Rieko Ioane move from the right wing to the left as a result.

The Fijian-born winger made his test debut in 2023 under former coach Ian Foster, but injuries have limited him to just one further test appearance in the time since.

The 25-year-old was included in the All Blacks’ wider squad named by Robertson, as injury cover for club teammate Anton Lienert-Brown.

Narawa played 14 matches in the Chiefs’ run to the Super Rugby Pacific final, scoring six tries.

Robertson and his fellow selectors had initially gone short in their outside back stocks for their 33-man squad to face France. However, both – Reece and Clarke – have now gone down injured to trigger Narawa coming into the full squad.

All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot 2. Codie Taylor 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Patrick Tuipulotu 5. Fabian Holland 6. Tupou Vaa’i 7. Ardie Savea (c) 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Cam Roigard 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Rieko Ioane 12. Jordie Barrett 13. Billy Proctor 14. Emoni Narawa 15. Will Jordan

Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho 17. Ollie Norris 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Samipeni Finau 20. Du’Plessis Kirifi 21. Cortez Ratima 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai 23. Damian McKenzie

Tamaiti Williams (knee), Tyrel Lomax (calf), Wallace Sititi (ankle), Luke Jacobson (concussion), Sevu Reece (concussion) and Scott Barrett (calf) were all unavailable for selection.