There you go, the Cartel get it wrong again.  Ha, well wrong if Mr Safety first BartMan was part of the Cartel selection panel.  However, I am not, so here is the All Blacks team for the French match, dissected as only a former front rower can...

15:   Leon MacDonald (Canterbury).  50 tests.
No brainer really, as he is in top form, safe on defence, and is experienced.  Selected as expected, expecially as it gives Mils a chance at centre, where his 54 tests won't be found wanting either.

14:  Joe Rokocoko (Auckland).  47 tests.
Well, I thought that he would make the cut for this test match, just thought it would be in place of Sivivatu, not in place of sideshow Doug.  The Cartel putting on the blitzkrieg wingers.  Fair enough, that worked 65 odd years ago, and will probably work again...

13:  Mils Muliaina (Waikato).  54 tests.
Again, as expected, experience the key here in this selection.

12:  Luke McALister (North Harbour).  21 tests.
Again, as per yesterdays predictions.  Luke really won a hard fought battle with Mauger for this spot, he can thank less brain explosions and more passing the ball as opposed to the brainless kicks for that.

11:  Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato).  20 tests.
While looking half asleep in the last two games, he has shown enough for the Cartel to keep him on.  While neither he or Rokocoko are as 'safe' options as Howlett, they are both players that can turn a game on its head with a brilliant defender beating run.  Against France I think this will be vital.  Against Australia or South Africa however, I think Howlett would play, in place of one of the cousins.

10:  Dan Carter (Canterbury).  46 tests.
Yeah, well, who else - even blind, deaf, dumb pygmies in outer Boliiva, who have never heard of rugby would have picked Carter.  They would also have picked Evans to take the jersey should his calf injury flare up.

9:  Byron Kelleher (Waikato).  56 tests.
Obviously.

8:  Rodney So'oialo (Wellington).  40 tests.
With Lauaki suspended, the 1% change that Rodders would be dropped is quashed.

7:  Richie McCaw (Canterbury).  58 tests.

6:  Jerry Collins (Wellington).  47 tests.
Expect a big one from Jerry, primed and ready to go.

5:  Keith Robinson (Waikato).  11 tests.
It actually makes more sense to start the big lad than play him off the bench.  Why?  Because of that damn injury.  It might go at any time I expect, and if he comes off the bench and replaces someone with 30 minutes to go, and then gets broken after 5 minutes, you end up having to play Jerry Collins or Rodney So'oialo at lock for the next 25 minutes.  Not a good option.  However start him, with a lock specialist on the bench, then there really are no worries.

4:  Ali Williams (Auckland).  45 tests.
The number one lock in the Kiwi pecking order, will probably start all three (if we get that far) knock out matches in the RWC, Jack and Robinson rotating the other starting spot over the three matches - Robbo versus the Boers and Frogs, Jack versus the Aussies.

3:  Carl Hayman (Otago).  44 tests.
Obviously.

2:  Anton Oliver (Otago).  58 tests.
Like the Robinson selection, Oliver to start this test and (finger toes and nose hiars crossed) the final.  Mealamu to start against the Aussies.

1:  Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).  36 tests.
Obviously too, the two best props in New Zealand, perhaps the world...?

16:  Kevin Mealamu (Auckland).  50 tests.
A 50 test veteran on the bench, behind a 58 test veteran starting.  This is the experience that was lacking in the past in big games.

17:  Neemia Tialata (Wellington).  21 tests.
Why not Somerville?  Cartel looking to sub Woondcock at some stage in this test, and then use Somerville in the next to rest Hayman?  Tialata a far better loosehead than tight, so that may be the reasoning behind thing.

18:  Chris Jack (Canterbury).  66 tests.
Will get a decent 30 minutes at the coalface I expect - for Robinson.

19:  Chris Masoe (Wellington).  19 tests.
With Lauaki gone, who else - Thorne?  Nope, he's now a lock option first, loose forward second.  Masoe to get some game time for the most battered of the three loose forwards, earlier should the score allow, ten to fifteen minutes otherwise.

20:  Brendan Leonard (Waikato).  8 tests.
Picked for a job, that of an impact sub.

21:  Nick Evans (Otago).  15 tests.
There in case Carter blows out.

22:  Isaia Toeava (Auckland).  14 tests.
So the Cartel has faith in this young fella all along eh?  Muliaina gets injured, and the 20 year old slots straight back into centre.

So there you go, the first non rotated team for how many years?  But at the same time, expect changes for the next game, should there be one.  This team has been selected to beat France, no more and no less.  So expect changes next up, probably as outlined above...