Buros debuts at fullback as France makes four changes to face New Zealand
PARIS (AP) — Bordeaux fullback Romain Buros makes his test debut for France in one of four changes from the side which routed Japan to face New Zealand in autumn rugby at Stade de France on Saturday.
Buros replaces Leo Barré, and Gabin Villière comes in at right wing with Damian Penaud ill and his matchday replacement, Théo Attissogbe, out with a sprained left ankle.
Veteran center Gaël Fickou comes back into midfield for his 92nd cap alongside Yoram Moefana, with Émilien Gailleton going to the reserves.
The lone change in the forwards sees Paul Boudehent — who scored two second-half tries in the 52-12 win against Japan — replacing a concussed François Cros at flanker in coach Fabien Galthié's side.
Regular fullback Thomas Ramos stays at flyhalf alongside star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, whose scoring touch was not even required last Saturday, when Les Tricolores crossed for eight tries at Stade de France.
Flanker Thibaud Flament has shaken off a blow to the knee from that game and lines up with Alexandre Roumat and No. 8 Grégory Alldritt in the back row.
The bench has a 6-2 split with flanker and former captain Charles Ollivon returning after being omitted from the matchday 23 against Japan.
Scrumhalf Maxime Lucu and flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert drop out with scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec joining Gailleton on the bench.
France and New Zealand met in the opening game of the 2023 World Cup, which France won 27-13 with Jalibert a starter. The All Blacks went on to reach the final at Stade de France, losing to South Africa .
New Zealand dramatically edged England 24-22 two weeks ago at Twickenham and beat Ireland 23-13 in Dublin last Friday.
France comes back to the national stadium next Friday to complete its autumn campaign against Argentina.
