The All Blacks have made six changes to their starting line-up to face the spoiling French in Wellington on Saturday. The changes are largely rotational with Luke McAlister replacing Aaron Mauger, Byron Kelleher in for Piri Weepu, Rodney Soioalo for Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins for Reuben Thorne, Keith Robinson for Chris Jack and Anton Oliver for Kevan Mealamu.

The new side looks stronger than the team that played the first Test. Thorne will return if Collins fails a fitness test, while Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter are also doubtful. The bench includes Conrad Smith with Ma'a Nonu leaving the squad, Nick Evans, Brendon Leonard, Masoe, Chris Jack, Neemia Tialata and Mealamu.

The back three remains the same with Malili Muliaina still injured, while Graham Henry continues to build combinations and give players a chance to blow out the cobwebs. The midfield, halves and loose forwards are all the top combinations, although with such a horses for courses approach by Henry this means little.

It is like baking a cake for Henry with some players underdone after the Super 14 like Joe Rokocoko and Ali Williams, while Doug Howlett and Troy Flavell need rest. It will be interesting to see how this side goes, but hopefully they can combat the spoiling tactics of the French which dominated the first Test. Henry is also lamenting the lack of time the ball is in play during the game. Last Saturday's match was frustrating with the constant resetting of scrums, supposed injuries and the time taken by video referees to make decisions a nuisance.

On the other side of the ledger, the French have made changes including the introduction of prop Olivier Sourgens for Nicholas Mas and second five-eighths Lionel Mazars for injured Jean Phillipe Grandclaude, in a baptism of fire. The pair are joined by Damien Chouly taking over at blindside from Gregory Le Corvec, and new wing Julien Laharrague, who was stood down last week. The French are expected to step up their game and show improved cohesion after settling in New Zealand following their arrival in the country last Tuesday.

It is a game of contrasting aims. The All Blacks players are already pencilled into the selectors'  World Cup squad list, and they need to get some games under their belts in order to get their names inked in. For the French, only a few of their players will be playing on home turf in September and October, but it sure is a dream come true for many of them earning Test caps against the mighty All Blacks in a sports-mad nation.