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'It's our number one side' – Steve Hansen expects All Blacks backlash after Australia loss

November 10, 2017

The All Blacks coach has named a near unchanged side from the Brisbane defeat. (Source: Other)

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is backing his first-choice side to bounce back from their last outing, a 23-18 loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane in October, against France this weekend.

The inclusion of Vaea Fifita and Luke Romano means only two new faces from that All Blacks side, with Hansen adamant that his best side will recover from that third Bledisloe Cup loss three weeks ago.

"We believe that's the number one side that we've got," Hansen said.

"We think that it's the team to go into Saturday (Sunday NZT) that can do the best job for us."

The All Blacks face France in Paris on Sunday morning.

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