Rugby World Cup 2023: the Blues offer themselves the All Blacks in the opening match

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP 23:21 p.m., September 08, 2023, modified at 23:30 p.m., September 08, 2023

Dream start: for the entry into its World Cup, the XV of France tamed the All Blacks (27-13) Friday at the Stade de France. Antoine Dupont's partners are perfectly launching their home competition that they hope to stretch until October 28, the day of the final.

First defeat of the All Blacks in the group stage

In two minutes, a converted try from Damian Penaud (16-13, 55th) and a New Zealand yellow card (Will Jordan, 57th) turned the match around and allowed the Blues to inflict on the All Blacks, the first defeat in their history in the group stage of the World Cup. A success definitively sealed by a second try of the incoming Melvyn Jaminet just before the siren (79th). The ex-Clermontois Damian Penaud had to do it twice, but a few minutes after being narrowly stopped by a desperate tackle by the opposing opener Richie Mo'unga, the winger equalized, at only 26 years old, Philippe Sella among the best scorers in the history of the XV of France (30).

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Of all the scenarios they have imagined since the announcement of this ultimate poster at the opening of their World Cup, two and a half years ago, the Blues would have preferred to avoid a nightmare start to the match, between a try conceded after 92 seconds and the exit on injury after only 12 minutes of Julien Marchand, hit in a thigh. But even unrecognizable, the XV of France joined the locker room in the lead at the break (9-8), thanks in particular to the accuracy of its back Thomas Ramos at the foot (14 points scored in total).

A message sent to Ireland and South Africa

It was only a first group game but their predecessors in 2007 paid to know that this inaugural meeting sets the tone. No shipwreck as against the Argentines (17-12) on this same lawn, fifteen years ago. By winning this showdown, Fabien Galthié's men are sending a message to the oval planet. In particular to the Irish, world N.1, as well as the South Africans, crowned four years ago, whom they could both meet in the quarter-finals.

The XV of France is not there yet but, with this success, extends its arms to the first place of its group A, completed by Italy, Uruguay and Namibia. Knowing that the second of each pool also reaches the quarter-finals.

All Blacks remain a danger

Even these faded Blacks, as evidenced by their historic rout against South Africa (35-7) two weeks earlier, remain a danger. Like the two tries of their winger Mark Telea or their center Rieko Ioane, the massive three-quarter centre who pierced the first French curtain to allow the first try, then shifted Telea after a feint pass for the second try.

Selection suffering, far from the sacred one in 2011 and 2015, the players to the fern accused in addition to the absences of weight Friday, their best center Jordie Barrett, their right pillar Tyrel Lomax and also their third line Shannon Frizell, kiwi version of Anthony Jelonch, physical beast multiplying tackles and scratching of ball. A hecatomb completed by Sam Cane, the captain, announced forfeit just a few minutes before the start of the game.

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The injured are even more numerous on the blue side: the opener Romain Ntamack, forfeit for the entire tournament, as the second line Paul Willemse but also the pillar Cyril Baille, the center Jonathan Danty and precisely the third line Anthony Jelonch, whose returns are expected by the quarterfinals. List to which is added Julien Marchand... There is no hurry, the biggest piece of the group stage having passed.