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France, All Blacks fine tune buildup

New Zealand and France meet in a one-off test today with their World Cup preparations in full swing but at slightly different stages.

All Blacks coach John Mitchell's "block building" seems to have taken on some cement with the recall of the front row that toiled against England two weeks ago, while the French look to put two defeats by Argentina behind them.

Several members of the probable French World Cup squad have been left at home to rest, but New Zealand are always wary of France, particularly since their famous defeat in the 1999 World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.

"An unknown quantity is a dangerous animal," Mitchell said before mentioning the "spiritual quality" that makes France such a dangerous side.

Robbie Deans, Mitchell's assistant, said France had plenty of motivation for the match.

"For a lot of these guys it will be their last opportunity to stake a claim for a World Cup place," Deans said. "These guys aren't going to want to go home wondering whether they put their best foot forward.

"They are going to throw everything at us, not only to finish on a good note, but from an individual perspective to stake a claim for the World Cup."

France coach Bernard Laporte could have done without injuries to backs Thomas Castaignede and Yann Delaigue, but will at least have the experienced Gerard Merceron on the bench after he arrived in New Zealand on Thursday.

Laporte has included the only three players not to play either of the tests against Argentina, with tighthead prop Nicholas Mas making his test debut. Lock Lionel Nallet and number eight Elvis Vermeulen are the others getting their first game of the tour.

Meanwhile, South Africa's tentative start to World Cup year will come under close examination today in a one-off test against Argentina.

Local pundits have avoided the normally gung-ho predictions for a fixture that the Springboks have never lost and won 49-29 a year ago.

Argentina's 2-0 home series win over France before arriving in South Africa, and the Springboks' indifferent showing in victory by a similar margin over Scotland makes the Pumas a dangerous proposition, says Springbok captain Corne Krige.

"The win over France gives them credibility as a great side and means that they are no pushovers," he said.

"It will be difficult for us but we have a good pack and will have to be clinical to put them away."

Krige returns to action after a two-month lay-off with a knee injury and leads a side that shows eight changes to the one that defeated Scotland 28-19 in the second test in Johannesburg a fortnight ago.

Centre Gcobani Bobo -- the first Rastafarian to play for South Africa -- makes his first start in a test in a side that has otherwise bulked up on experience to the one that did duty against the Scots.

Props Robbie Kempson and Cobus Visagie are called up to make their first appearances of the season and counter the expected power of the Pumas scrum while Pieter Rossouw returns to the wing after an 18-month absence.

In other changes, scrumhalf Craig Davidson, flank AJ Venter and lock Quinton Davids also make their first starts of the season.

Argentine coach Marcelo Loffreda laughed off suggestions that his side might even go into the match as favourites but said this was as good a squad as the country had ever assembled.

"We have definitely improved since last year," he said through an interpreter. "We have matured as a team and we are definitely nearer to the top sides in the world.

"But the main thing is that this month is a very important one for World Cup preparation. This is the last opportunity to finalise the players to take to the World Cup."
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