Pascal Papé makes miraculous recovery in time and make French team to face All Blacks

The ribs are okay. The xiphisternum is intact. Papé is ready for the world champions.

Despite missing Tuesday's training session, following his side's painful defeat to Ireland, Pascal Papé is fit enough to start in France's second row this weekend. The 35-year-old will partner Yoann Maestri in the second row for Saturday evening's duel with the All Blacks. Papé gave a statement to a Judicial Officer, on Tuesday, as part of a hearing on the Sean O'Brien strike he received in last Sunday's 24-9 defeat, in Cardiff. Expressing his extreme pain and discomfort during the game, Papé was, however, fit to play on for a further 71 minutes. Elsewhere in the matchday squad - Andre Dumoulin comes in for the laclustre Mathieu Bastareaud while Bernard Le Roux of Racing 92 replaces Damien Chouly.

FRANCE S Spedding, B Dulin, W Fofana, A Dumoulin, N Nakaitaci, F Michalak, M Parra; B Le Roux, L Picamoles, T Dusautoir, Y Maestri, P Pape, R Slimani, G Guirado, E Ben Arous. Replacements: D Szarzewski, V Debaty, N Mas, D Chouly, Y Nyanga, R Kockott, R Tales, M Bastareaud.