Rugby World Cup: forms of both teams, ceremony... All you need to know before France - New Zealand

Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Mike Hewitt / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP 06:00 a.m., September 08, 2023

The players of the XV of France have this date of September 8 in mind perhaps more since the draw of the Rugby World Cup. The Blues will actually play their opening match at the Stade de France against the dreaded All Blacks of New Zealand, this Friday at 21:15. A poster that makes you dream, as it brings back good and bad memories to the supporters of the France team. Forms of both teams, duel history, schedule and broadcast: here's everything you need to know before enjoying this long-awaited encounter.

A France XV reassured, despite the loss of Ntamack

The France team was full of confidence before the start of the competition. Despite a failure at the beginning of the preparation against Scotland (25-21), the Blues of coach Fabien Galthié reassured themselves by taking their revenge in Saint-Etienne a week later before sweeping Australia (41-17) in the Dionysian enclosure Sunday, for the last test match before the World Cup.

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A positive assessment in preparation but largely tarnished by the absence of one of the stars of the tricolor selection, Romain Ntamack. The usual number 10 of the Blues came out injured in the knee during the second preparatory match against Scotland and had to withdraw from the Rugby World Cup.

Fabien Galthié will also have to cope without the pillar Cyril Baille for the first matches of the tournament, the Toulouse suffering at the level of the right calf. Finally, another manager of the XV of France, Paul Willemse, had to withdraw due to an injury to make way for Bastien Chalureau, at the heart of a controversy since his recall to the selection. Some last minute upheavals for the French staff.

The All Blacks sounded at the end of preparation

Unlike the French, sportingly, the New Zealanders were not reassured before the competition. The All Blacks even suffered the worst defeat in their history against South Africa on August 25 (35-7), two weeks before the start of the World Cup.

A heavy defeat that darkens a preparation that was almost perfect until then, with four wins in a row over major opponents such as Argentina, South Africa (at home), and Australia twice. Stunned by this South African setback, the New Zealanders will still want to capitalize on their good first matches in order to bring down the France on Friday.

63rd face-to-face between the two teams

The opening match of the Rugby World Cup will mark the 63rd official duel in history between France and New Zealand. On the scoreboard, the All Blacks lead by a wide margin with 48 wins against 13 for the France team, and a draw. Some matches have marked the history of this sport, such as the final of the first World Cup in history in 1987 won by New Zealand at home (29-9).

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Other confrontations still remain in the minds, such as the victory of the Blues in the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup (20-18), or this cruel defeat of the XV of France four years later, in Auckland, in the final of the 2011 edition (8-7). The last confrontation between the two nations dates back to November 2021, and the French had defeated the New Zealanders brilliantly at the Stade de France in a test match (40-25).

2nd duel in World Cup pool

For the second time after the 2011 edition, France and New Zealand face each other in the group stage of a World Cup. 12 years ago, the Blues were outclassed by All Blacks unleashed on their land, in Auckland (37-17). Note that the next match between the two teams will be their eighth clash in a World Cup, for a record of one win and six losses for the Blues.

A half-hour opening ceremony

If the opening match starts at 21:15, and not at 21:20 like other matches in the competition, it is because it will be preceded by an opening ceremony from 200:<>. As our colleagues from Le Parisien point out, it was the actor Jean Dujardin who conceived the show lasting approximately half an hour. More than <> volunteers will be on stage to interpret different sketches "on the register of mime, silent cinema," said the casting notice consulted by the daily. The France Patrol and fireworks are also expected.

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An exceptional evening to live on Europe 1

On the occasion of the opening match of the 2023 World Cup on Friday between France and New Zealand, Europe 1 offers an exceptional device to its listeners. From 20 p.m., Jacques Vendroux took control of the pre-match alongside the station's journalists and consultants, like Serge Blanco. The meeting will be followed live and in full. It will be followed by a great debrief always around the consultants and journalists of Europe 1. On the television side, the opening match will be broadcast on TF1.