SWANSEA -- The All Blacks have made four changes for their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against France on Saturday in Cardiff.

With Tony Woodcock ruled out of the tournament, Wyatt Crockett starts at loosehead with Joe Moody poised to make his first appearance of the campaign from the bench. Elsewhere Julian Savea takes Waisele Naholo's place on the wing while Richie McCaw and Brodie Retallick return in the pack.

"We're exactly where we want to be -- playing a quarterfinal at Millennium Stadium,"head coach Steve Hansen said. "It's finals footy and we're hugely excited by that. we're a team that enjoys a challenge we've had a great week's preparation and it's now about putting it on the park.

"This team has always been about making its own history. We've known for along time that this match-up may be a possibility and we're really looking forward to it. There are not many better places to play than a packed Millennium Stadium."

It will be New Zealand's first encounter with France in a World Cup since the final in 2011 when the All Blacks won 8-7. They have a lengthy history in the quadrennial tournament after France knocked New Zealand out of the 1999 and 2007 editions.

"All Blacks-France Tests are always intense affairs and we expect this weekend to be no different," Hansen added. "The French will be very physical and both teams have plenty to play for. We're at the time in the tournament where the big boys have to step up to the plate and the team that does this the best will move through to the next round. It's as simple as that, we can't wait."

New Zealand

Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read

Replacements:

Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams.