France coach Marc Lievremont has named an unchanged starting team to play New Zealand in the World Cup final in Auckland on Sunday.

For the second successive week, Lievremont belied his reputation for constantly tinkering with player combinations by naming the same XV that scraped past 14-man Wales 9-8 in last Saturday's semifinal.

The bench for the Eden Park climax will be named later in the week, with fitness updates needed on a handful of players.

Eleven of the starting team played in the 37-17 pool loss to the All Blacks last month, while only wing Vincent Clerc and centre Aurelien Rougerie will have started each of France's seven games in their World Cup campaign.

Lievremont was in an upbeat mood despite that group phase defeat, saying that it was no surprise Les Bleus were the underdogs.

"It's always the same with the All Blacks," he said Wednesday after announcing the team. "Each time we play them, they're the favourites.

"But I believe my team has a chance. We'll give our best. I think we can win."

Lievremont added: "We already played them in the pool phase and we all know the result. We'll be expecting the same intensity this time around.

"You always expect the best from the All Blacks," he said, adding that his team selection had been straightforward.

"I didn't hesitate, it was quite clear," insisted Lievremont, a back-row forward in the France team that lost the 1999 World Cup final to Australia.

Lievremont again stood by his controversial decision to play goal-kicking scrum-half Morgan Parra at flyhalf, leaving specialist No.10 Francois Trinh-Duc on the sidelines.

Dimitri Yachvili partners Parra at halfback for a France team making their third appearance in a World Cup Final after also losing the 1987 tournament decider to New Zealand.

Flank Thierry Dusautoir captains the side, with Julien Bonnaire and No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy alongside him in the back row.

Lionel Nallet and Pascal Pape are the two locks.

Nicolas Mas and Jean-Baptiste Poux prop up hooker William Servat, with Rougerie and Maxime Mermoz teaming up in midfield.

The exciting back three sees Maxime Medard at fullback, with Clerc and Alexis Palisson on the wings.

Wednesday's announcement was the first time in 44 matches since taking over for the 2008 Six Nations that Lievremont named an unchanged team two games in a row.

The All Blacks, who beat Australia 20-6 in their semifinal, are due to name their side on Friday.

France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Morgan Parra, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: TBC

Date: Sunday, October 23
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 21.00 (08.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Nigel Owens (Wales)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)