Dave Rennie has selected his first All Blacks squad of the year for Saturday's test against France in Christchurch, with Ruben Love at first-five and two uncapped players on the bench.

Love gets the 10 jersey

Love, who has 5 test caps, will wear the number 10 jersey in a backline that also sees Damian McKenzie at fullback. McKenzie, with 74 test caps, has been picked at 15 while Beauden Barrett has been left out of the 23-man squad entirely.

Cam Roigard will start at halfback, partnering Love in the halves. The 17-test halfback will combine with the relatively inexperienced first-five.

Two debutants named

Xavier Numia and Fehi Fineanganofo have both been named on the bench and are in line for debut caps. The pair are joined among the reserves by Billy Proctor, who has 11 test caps, after Quinn Tupaea was preferred at centre in the starting XV. Tupaea has 24 test caps.

Jordie Barrett, with 78 test caps, will play at second-five alongside Tupaea in the midfield, with Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke on the wings. Jordan brings 54 test caps and Clarke 33 caps to the back three.

Experienced front row

Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell will start in the front row. De Groot has 40 test caps, Taylor 106 caps and Newell 35 caps.

Sam Darry and Josh Lord will start in the second row, with Tupou Vaa'i unavailable due to concussion. Darry has 8 test caps and Lord 12 caps.

The loose forward trio features Peter Lakai, with 8 test caps, at blindside flanker, Luke Jacobson at openside and captain Ardie Savea at number eight. Jacobson, with 24 test caps, was selected ahead of Wallace Sititi, who has 19 test caps and has been named among the reserves. Savea brings 106 test caps to the captaincy role.

Bench balances impact and debutants

Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu and Cortez Ratima complete the bench alongside the two debutants, Sititi and Proctor. Aumua has 20 test caps, Lomax 48 caps, Tuipulotu 56 caps and Ratima 21 caps.

Rennie said the selection reflects both Super Rugby form and test match experience. "There is no doubt players have forced our hand as selectors through quality Super Rugby performances," he said. "We have selected an exciting blend of experience and youth, with a powerful bench that will add impact."

The test is part of the Nations Championship and is scheduled for Saturday in Christchurch.