Mils Muliaina has hit back at claims the team he will lead onto Carisbrook is the "worst All Black side of the modern era".

The make-up of the All Black team to play France in the opening match of the Iveco Series on Saturday night was savaged in a newspaper column on Wednesday.

Following a raft of injury-enforced defections, the men in black will run onto Carisbrook seriously depleted.

The horrendous casualty list is headed by captain Richie McCaw, out of the Iveco Series with a knee injury.

Muliaina has been handed the side's captaincy in McCaw's absence.

And he has wasted little time in hitting back at claims that his side is a shadow of team which won 13 of its tests in 2008.

"I don't know about the worst; I definitely disagree with that," Muliaina said.

"Obviously we are pretty inexperienced. That I do know.

"But I do know it is only not through playing test matches together.

"Apart from that, guys have been in the environment; they know what it is about, they know the plays and things like that. It is just about us getting used to different calls.

"In terms of the worst team, I definitely disagree with that. We have an inexperienced side, but one that is very excited and can't wait to get out there and play a French team that we know are big, strong and experienced."

Muliaina said there was no getting away from the fact that the All Blacks would go into the Iveco Series under-strength.

However, he said while those called up in response to the defections might be inexperienced in the heat of battle in the test arena, that did not mean they didn't have the mental strength or skills to sink France.

"This is just another challenge," he said.

"It is a huge one, I admit that.

"But this is what you play the game for; to be in these situations and to challenge yourself, to keep challenging yourself to be your best.

"When you take the names of McCaw, Carter, Williams and also Rodney out, it is a lot of experience.

"Yep, we are relatively inexperienced. But the excitement of the guys is outstanding; they just want to get out there and play.

"It is going to be hard. But I know I have a good group of core guys that are experienced, they have really driven this team.

"Certainly from my point of view, it has been outstanding so far."