"I'm expecting our guys to get out there and really take an opportunity," Kirwan said. "The All Blacks playing Munster, the Lions playing the Force and the Reds and now the French playing the Blues, I think it's where rugby needs to go forward. Get back to some mid-week games. It's good for our guys and it's good for their fringe guys who might not get a test match."
For Kirwan, it is also a fantastic opportunity to keep his players in shape away from the grind of the training field. With the Super Rugby competition on hold for the June internationals, Kirwan had organised a match against the Hurricanes, but quickly cancelled it when he received a better offer.
There's no doubt which match his players would prefer to be involved in.
"France are a special team in my heart. I played my first test match against them, I love their rugby philosophy, you never know what you're going to get. We could get a grinding, hard-fought competition or we could get champagne rugby.
"It's exciting for our guys, it's a really important game for some of the guys. We've got [centre] Malakai Fekitoa having his first game, we've got [fullback] Marty McKenzie, who hasn't played a lot for us. [Prop] Ofa [Tu'ungafasi] hasn't played much either. It's good for the franchise that they're getting a chance and they need to step up."
For France, only Maxime Medard will back up from the side which started the test against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday. Medard started on the left wing in that match and has been named at fullback.
Flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo has been ruled out for the rest of the tour due to an ankle injury. Yannick Nyanga, who replaced him just after half-time at Eden Park, will start.
Blues team to play France at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow (Tues), kick-off 7.05pm is: Marty McKenzie, Frank Halai, Malakai Fekitoa, Jackson Willison, George Moala, Baden Kerr, Jamison Gibson-Park, Peter Saili, Brendon O'Connor, Kane Barrett, Culum Retallick, Anthony Boric, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Parsons (c), Sam Prattley. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Angus Ta'avao, Liaki Moli, Ronald Raaymakers, Sean Polwart, Chris Noakes, Tevita Li, Wayne Ngaluafe.
France: Maxime Medard, Noa Nakaitaci, Gael Fickou, Maxime Mermoz, Marc Andreu, Remi Tales, Jean Marc Doussain, Antonie Claassen, Bernard le Roux, Yannick Nyanga, Alexandre Flanquart, Christophe Samson, Nicolas Mas, Guilhem Guirado, Eddy Ben Arous. Reserves: Benjamin Kayser, Vincent Debaty, Daniel Kotze, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Damien Chouly, Frederic Michalak, Camille Lopez, Brice Dulin.
