All Blacks Wing Rieko Ioane said Thursday he expects French players to have a shoulder chip after being called a B-Team in front of the three-match series against New Zealand.

France sent a team with 20 players intact in New Zealand For the three -trial series that begins Saturday at Dunerty.

New Zealand appointed four non-captured players on their day of match 23 Thursday, including the Dutch blocking Fabian Holland and no.8 Christian Lio-Willie in the starting lineup.

Ioane, who was moved to the side by coach Scott Robertson for the first time in four years, said he was not watching France as a B.

“If I was that team traveling here, I would have that chip on the shoulder, you know,“Ioane told AFP.

“Everyone is calling them a B team, but they are not.

“The energy they bring and the intensity they train will be at a level that some of their home players would bring over a week’s test week.

“So if anything, they are more of a dangerous beast than we will get used to, and we have to wait for everything.“

Former all blacks have been loud in their criticism of the weakened French team.

Former Scrum Justin Marshall Half told Sky Sport that the team was “BS Total” and France was sending only one development team.

New Zealand media have stated that 11 of the 20 new lids do not have Wikipedia site.

“I know there are many conversations about it but I’m not sure the players would feel like that,“Ioane said.

“We know there will be a big challenge no matter who is there.“

Ioane said all the blacks were focused on their game and would not be distracted by who they play against.

He said he had enough to think about playing on the side for all blacks for the first time since 2021.

“Yes, look, is taking rust from the first two days,“Ioane accepted.

“It was pretty good that we had that camp up in Auckland. I will be comfortable from the time of the time game revolves.

“My connection to Billy (Proctor), WILL (Jordan), Sow (Reece), Everyone around me is growing.“

At the end of the year, Ioane will move abroad for a six -month sabatics with the Irish leinster side.

It comes after Jordie Barrett ended up a sabatic in the club, praising the physicality of the game in the northern hemisphere.

Ioane shook Irish fans after New Zealand’s quarterfinal victory at Rugby World Cup 2023.

He also ended up in a word fight with Johnny Sexton, Ireland.

“There is a number of reasons for what I do,“Ioane said about this action.

“Most importantly is that it will be a fresh experience.“