French coach Jacques Brunel is aiming to make the most of the Forsyth Barr Stadium's high-speed artificial surface by bringing in a fast centre combination to Saturday's side to play the All Blacks in Dunedin.
Remi Lamarat and Wesley Fofana have earned a reputation at Top 14 Clermont side andfor the national team as a hugely effective pairing.
They get their first call up on this tour to replace injured centre Geoffrey Doumayrou and captain Mathieu Bastareaud, who's had a long season and was expected to struggle on the Dunedin surface.
Veteran scrum half Morgan Parra replaces Bastareaud as skipper, his first call up in the role.
Fofana, prone to injury, has not played at the international level since the 19 – 24 defeat against New Zealand in November 2016 in France. French media are tipping that he is expected to play a key role in next year's World Cup.
The French team: 15 Ben Fall 14 Teddy Thomas 13 Remi Lamarat 12 Wesley Fofana 11 Gael Fickou 10 Anthony Belleau 9 Morgan Parra (captain) 8 Kelian Galletier 7 Kevin Gourdon 6 Mathieu Babillot 5 Yoann Maestri 4 Bernard Le Roux 3 Uini Atonio 2 Camille Chat 1 Dany Priso.
