KEY POINTS:
PARIS - The All Blacks' power of surprise continued today with five changes for the repeat test with France including another rejigged midfield.
When the selection wheel stopped, Mils Muliaina and Ma'a Nonu were awarded the midfield roles in a blend which has yet to be tried during
coach Graham Henry's regime.
(For full team list see below)
Muliaina was picked for five tests this year at centre as the search continued for the best replacement for Tana Umaga. But Nonu has never been used at second five-eighths in a test by the current selectors. He came on as a midfield substitute against France in Lyon last weekend and started there against the Barbarians at Twickenham in 2004.
Muliaina has shown he is equally adept at fullback or centre while Leon MacDonald would probably get into any other international side as a fullback.
He was in tremendous form at Lyon defusing many of the French "bombs" and with the ambiguity still about centre, the selectors have chosen to include MacDonald and Muliaina.
Whether that shows their hand for the World Cup or they are still experimenting is unclear.
Those picked for Paris who did not start last week are Muliaina, Nonu, Byron Kelleher, Chris Jack and Keven Mealamu.
Nonu's selection is the wildcard in today's team announcement, especially when the selectors had nominated Aaron Mauger and Luke McAlister as their preferred second five-eighths on tour. They had also used Nonu at centre against England.
They liked the amount of carries Nonu had at Twickenham and obviously are looking to tweak the game plan and give the French more problems.
No matter the slant put on the selection, it is a rebuff for Mauger, McAlister and Conrad Smith and further evidence the selectors are uneasy about how best to cope with Umaga's absence.
Every player in the squad was fit and available for this weekend.
Nonu has all the power Umaga brought to his game and the coaching staff were complimentary about his decisions, support play and ball retention at Twickenham.
There are still rough edges to Nonu's game, some defensive flaws and he may be best used in midfield in tests where his lack of outright speed will not be exposed.
In the other changes Kelleher replaces Piri Weepu who has slid right off the radar with Andrew Ellis chosen as the backup halfback. There is a similar scenario at hooker with the Mealamu restored to the front row and Anton Oliver missing the for Andrew Hore.
Ali Williams' strong performance at lock at Lyon has earned him a repeat cap, pushing past Keith Robinson to be in tandem with Chris Jack.
It has taken 34 tests and three years' scrutiny but the All Blacks have eventually revealed their top side.
At least that was the theory delivered by coach Graham Henry in the initial week on tour, a strategy which was made before his side put 40 points past England and France.
Is this the top team or the most appropriate combination they want to see play France? Assistant coach Steve Hansen pointed in that direction after Lyon when he said the top 22 would not be everyone's choice.
"We'll pick our team for this game based on what is right for the team and the opposition we're playing."
Team: Leon MacDonald, Joe Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Luke McAlister, Nick Evans, Andrew Ellis, Chris Masoe, Jason Eaton, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore.
