All Blacks skipper Kieran Read will miss the All Blacks' final Test of 2017 against Wales due to injury.
Read didn't train with the team on Thursday (Wales time) and has been replaced by Luke Whitelock who will start at No. 8.
With Read out, lock Sam Whitelock will lead New Zealand against the Welsh at Millennium Stadium on Sunday morning (NZ time).
"Whilst it's disappointing to not have 'Reado' [Kieran Read] available, it's a great opportunity to further grow the leadership of the team and, in this case, Sam Whitelock gets the opportunity to captain the side," said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
"With his brother Luke captaining the All Blacks against the French XV, it will create a unique All Blacks family history, and one which their family can be proud of."
There is one other injury-enforced change to the matchday 23 which beat Scotland last week where Patrick Tuipulotu comes in for Luke Romano.
Meanwhile winger Rieko Ione has made a miraculous recovery and will start on the left wing, despite initially being ruled out with a shoulder injury.
All Blacks squad to face Wales
1. Kane Hames, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Samuel Whitelock (c), 6. Liam Squire, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Luke Whitelock, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Ryan Crotty, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Matt Todd, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Lima Sopoaga, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown
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