France faces New Zealand for a memorable opening match

3 mins

“ New Zealand is a magnificent first opponent. Since our childhood, we have been passionate about this game, in love with the oval ball. And what could be better than New Zealand at the opening? We are so happy to face this team that for us this match is a celebration, a joy, a great happiness, in short it is wonderful », Launches the Blues coach Fabien Galthié at a press conference. “ The All Blacks have made generations and generations dream. When I was little, I admired them, so facing them in the opening match of a World Cup, in France too… All the conditions are there for it to be a great event, the poster in any case is very beautiful », Adds Antoine Dupont, captain and scrum half. The second line of the XV of France Thibaud Flament assured that the Blues would “ let go of everything » because the Blues are only waiting for one thing: “ let it start “.

The two teams have met seven times in the past

This clash is far from unprecedented at the World Cup since the two teams have faced each other seven times in the past. Twice, in 1999 and in 2007, the XV of France managed to defeat the All Blacks in the most prestigious of rugby competitions.

The All Blacks paradoxically remain favorites in the competition, thanks to their technical superiority. But in 2021-2022, they were in turn humiliated by France (40-25) then at home by the Irish before falling against the Argentinians (25-18), a historic first. The team pulled itself together. The following year, she went eleven consecutive matches without defeat (ten wins for one draw) and would have arrived in France with her usual scarecrow status if she had not fallen heavily during her last preparation match in England against South Africa (35-7).

As for French players, Bordeaux-Bègles center Yoram Moefana will start against the All Blacks, in a French XV that is otherwise largely unchanged. Moefana was preferred to Jonathan Danty, who has not sufficiently recovered from his thigh injury, and to Arthur Vincent, who has hardly played for two years. Danty had started three of the four preparation matches, against Scotland (30-27), against Fiji (34-17) and against Australia (41-17), but is too tight for the opening of the World Cup.

Another new feature, left pillar Reda Wardi moves into the starting XV and will experience his third start in ten selections, his first since the victory against Fiji. The Rochelais doubled in the hierarchy the Toulonnais Jean-Baptiste Gros in the role of substitute for Cyril Baille.

For the rest, the Blues will therefore line up their almost typical team at the Stade de France with a hinge formed by captain and scrum half Antoine Dupont and fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, who replaces Romain Ntamack who is out of action for the entire competition.

After New Zealand, France will then face Uruguay in Lille (September 14), Namibia in Marseille (September 21) and Italy in Lyon (October 6).

France’s starting XV against the All Blacks : Ramos – Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Villière – (o) Jalibert, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Ollivon, Alldritt, Cros – Flament, Woki – Atonio, Marchand, Wardi

Substitutes: Mauvaka, Gros, Aldegheri, R. Taofifenua, Boudehent, Lucu, Vincent, Jaminet

Match to follow live at 9 p.m. on all RFI channels