By WYNNE GRAY
French first five-eighths David Skrela brings an impressive pedigree and instructions from his famous father for his test debut against the All Blacks.
The 22-year-old student replaces Gerald Merceron, who showed his class against the Springboks, but is one of the casualties as coach Bernard Laporte carried out
his promise to try most of his squad on this three-test mini-tour.
The coach has made seven changes and one positional switch from the side who lost the second and final test against South Africa.
Before the tour, 14 players who had been used in the Six Nations championship withdrew through injury or fatigue.
Laporte said he wanted to use this trip as a platform for the next World Cup and he intended using all 26 players somewhere in the three tests.
After France beat the Springboks in the first test he felt obliged to retain the group for the second international, and said he would make his changes for the final game, against the All Blacks in Wellington.
Auckland-bound tighthead prop Christian Califano returns to the pack, while Skrela and fullback Elhorga Pepito make their debuts in the backline.
After the selection, Skrela, son of former national coach and champion loose-forward Jean Claude Skrela, received best wishes and advice from his father, who is managing the French under-21 side in Australia.
"He rang me and said I must play like I do for my club. I must not try and do too much," Skrela said.
"It will be magic to play against the All Blacks, who are the best team in the world.
"It will also be very difficult because I am at the beginning of my career and I have no idea about rugby at international level."
Skrela is a tall young man who has a reputation for standing flat and attacking the defensive line, while also being a resolute tackler.
Much of the All Blacks' intelligence about this French side will have to be guesswork because so many in the side are new faces to them.
But familiar adversary Califano, in what will be his 66th test, said France had been hugely encouraged by their work already on tour and did not plan to finish with a whimper in Wellington.
They were confident they could win, he said, and continue the troubles they had given the All Blacks in recent seasons.
France: Pepito Elhorga, Nicolas Jeanjean, Yannick Jauzion, Stephane Glas, Christophe Dominici, David Skrela, Fabien Galthie (capt), Patrick Tabacco, Olivier Magne, Jean Bouilhou, Olivier Brouzet, Lionel Nallet, Christian Califano, Olivier Azam, Olivier Milloud.
Reserves: Raphael Ibanez, Jean Jacques Crenca, Pieter Devilliers, David Auradou, Sebastien Chabal, Gerald Merceron, Sebastien Bonetti.
By WYNNE GRAY
French first five-eighths David Skrela brings an impressive pedigree and instructions from his famous father for his test debut against the All Blacks.
The 22-year-old student replaces Gerald Merceron, who showed his class against the Springboks, but is one of the casualties as coach Bernard Laporte carried out
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