The inaugural edition of the Nations Championship launches in style with a clash between New Zealand and France in Christchurch.
This serves as the first All Blacks fixture at Te Kaha, the One New Zealand Stadium that has replaced the Lancaster Park venue damaged by the 2011 earthquakes in the city.
The new ground may well have a cracker to kick things off as the hosts start life under Dave Rennie, who replaced Scott Robertson as head coach at the start of the year.
While not at full strength, the France squad available to Fabien Galthie has been boosted by Bordeaux-Begles’ failure to make the Top 14 playoffs and the Six Nations winners have plenty of threat within their side.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is New Zealand vs France?
New Zealand vs France is due to kick off at 8.10am BST on Saturday 4 July at the One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with coverage on the channel from 7.30am BST. A live stream will be available on ITVX, with every game of the Nations Championship shown on the station across July and November.
Team news
New head coach Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks team is an intriguing one, with a few fresh touches on a familiar looking spine. Ardie Savea captains with Scott Barrett’s injury requiring Josh Lord and Sam Darry to take significant steps in their second row development.
Ruben Love is trusted at No 10 after helping the Hurricanes to a Super Rugby Pacific title; two more Wellington-based standouts in athletic prop Xavier Numia and try-machine Fehi Fineanganofo are set to make international debuts from the bench. So, too, will Jamie Hannah, with the lock called in late after injury to Patrick Tuipulotu.
New Zealand XV: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Fletcher Newell; 4 Josh Lord, 5 Sam Darry; 6 Peter Lakai, 7 Luke Jacobson, 8 Ardie Savea (capt.); 9 Cam Roigard, 10 Ruben Love; 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 14 Will Jordan; 15 Damian McKenzie.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Wallace Sititi; 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Fehi Fineanganofo.
Fresh from leading Bordeaux-Begles to back-to-back Champions Cup crowns, Maxime Lucu captains France from scrum half in the absence of Antoine Dupont. He has club chum Matthieu Jalibert alongside him in the halves amid eight European champions in all through Fabien Galthie’s starting side.
There is a new face in the second row in the form of Tom Staniforth, born in Canberra but now settled in Castres. Replacement hooker Barnabe Massa also awaits a debut while Mickael Guillard will provide plenty of back five impact.
France XV: 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Demba Bamba; 4 Hugo Auradou, 5 Tom Staniforth; 6 Pierre Bochaton, 7 Oscar Jegou, 8 Marko Gazzotti; 9 Maxime Lucu (capt.), 10 Matthieu Jalibert; 11 Theo Attissogbe, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 14 Damian Penaud; 15 Max Spring.
Replacements: 16 Barnabe Massa, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Mickael Guillard, 20 Killian Tixeront; 21 Nolann Le Garrec, 22 Antoine Hastoy, 23 Nicolas Depoortere.
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