Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s Rugby World Cup opener as France take on New Zealand at the Stade de France.
It’s a blockbuster way to kick-off the competition and we’ll bring you all the action as it happens in Paris. Ciarán Kennedy here to keep you updated and The 42′s Murray Kinsella will have a live report and the best reaction from the stadium post-game.
Kick-off in Paris is at 8.15pm. Get ready for what will hopefully be a cracking start to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
There’s already been some big breaking news in Paris. New Zealand captain Sam Cane is out of the game after picking up an injury during the warm-up. Dalton Papali’i comes in at openside flanker, with Tupou Vaa’i now at six. Brodie Retallick has been added to the All Blacks bench and Ardie Savea captains Ian Foster’s side.
Team update.#FRAvNZL pic.twitter.com/gZdpf6CaG3
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) September 8, 2023
Murray Kinsella is in place for The 42 ahead of the main event.
Spectacular stuff. pic.twitter.com/JgiYW8wIuS
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) September 8, 2023
Earlier on The 42 today, myself, Murray and Gavan Casey had a go at answering some of the big questions ahead of the tournament.
Here’s Gav on the pressure France will feel as host nation:
This will be the closest thing to the 1998 football World Cup that any French national team has experienced since, and a weight of expectation the likes of which Fabien Galthié and even The GOAT at scrum-half have never borne. And I expect them to wear it extremely well.
You can read the article in full here.
A familiar face in the New Zealand coaching box tonight…
Right, 15 minutes to kick-off. Let us know your predictions in the comment section.
Here’s how France line out tonight. A World Cup winning squad?
🇫🇷🇳🇿 𝐎𝐍 𝐘 𝐄𝐒𝐓 🔥
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) September 6, 2023
Voici votre #XVdeFrance pour le match d'ouverture de la #RWC2023 face à la Nouvelle-Zélande 🤩#UnisPourUnRêve #FRAvNZL pic.twitter.com/EhVrA2srkp
The teams are out on the pitch. Anthem time.
The less said about those anthems the better. Good Haka though.
Kick-off in Paris, here we go!
TRY – France 0 New Zealand 5 (Telea)
3mins: France 0 New Zealand 5
Wow, how about that for a start from the All Blacks? From the kick-off, New Zealand go right at the hosts, attacking down the right wing with pace and quick passing after a good break from Rieko Ioane. Beauden Barrett gets his hands on the ball and swings a crossfield kick out wide to Mark Telea, who dots down in the corner. Richie Mo’ounga misses the conversion but New Zealand have an early lead in Paris.
PENALTY – France 3 (Ramos) New Zealand 5
13mins – France 3 New Zealand 5
A big blow for France as hooker Julien Marchand is forced off after 12 minutes. Peato Mauvaka is in.
17mins – France 3 New Zealand 5
Mauvaka bursts down the wing and kicks in behind, but his run appears to be blocked as Barrett cleans up in the backfield. The home fans not happy with Jaco Peyper. It’s all a bit messy at the moment, with some big, big hits going in.
PENALTY – France 6 (Ramos) New Zealand 5
21mins – France 6 New Zealand 5
Ramos kicks France into a one-point lead with another penalty. A lot of kicking in the first 20, and New Zealand haven’t really threatened since that early try.
PENALTY – France 6 New Zealand 8 (Mo’unga)
26mins – France 6 New Zealand 8
An error by Ramos as he drops the ball from a New Zealand kick, so it’s a New Zealand scrum. From there, the All Blacks get into a good position down the right, with a big carry from Scott Barrett, who a few phases later loses the ball forward over the line. New Zealand were playing with penalty advantage so they get another go at it, and opt to kick an easy three points. Mo’unga slots the penalty and then we have the first water break of the night.
Oof, 17 missed tackles by France in the opening 25 minutes. Just the two for New Zealand.
PENALTY – France 9 (Ramos) New Zealand 8
28mins – France 9 New Zealand 8
A big, big win at the scrum by France. They win the penalty, and from 50 metres out Ramos splits the posts.
31mins: France 9 New Zealand 8
A chaotic passage of play ends with a thrilling chase between Dupont and Barrett down the right wing, but the New Zealand fullback does really well to scramble back and beat the France captain to the ball.
34mins: France 9 New Zealand 8
France win another penalty – Whitelock pinged for not releasing – but Ramos misses the target from a tough angle.
HALF-TIME: France 9 New Zealand 8
Half-time, and there’s just a point between them in Paris. We’ll meet you back here in 15 for the second half.
The second half is underway. No changes by the looks of things.
TRY – France 9 New Zealand 13 (Telea)
44mins: France 9 New Zealand 13
Just like in the first half, New Zealand come flying out of the blocks. France actually launched the first attack of the second half but after that comes to nothing, a chips in behind sets Will Jordan off and after he’s brought to ground New Zealand recycle the ball. Mo’unga’s skip pass finds Telea out wide and the winger runs in his second try of the evening. The French crowd aren’t happy as the pass perhaps looked forward, but there’s TMO check so the score stands. Mo’unga misses the conversion. It’s all happening now.
48mins: France 9 New Zealand 13
Jaco Peyper is not a popular man in Paris. Telea looked to have played the ball from an offside position but the referee keeps his cards in his pocket.
53mins: France 9 New Zealand 13
Wow! Penaud looks to be racing straight for the line but Mo’unga chases him down and dives in with an incredible try-saving tackle. Penaud should have protected the ball better but that was sensational from the All Blacks 10. Massive moment.
TRY – France 16 (Penaud) New Zealand 13
57mins: France 16 New Zealand 13
The France wing gets his try just minutes after being denied by Mo’unga in the corner. France win a penalty, go for the corner and while the lineout isn’t the cleanest, they keep possession and then move the ball wide where there’s an overlap, Penaud dives over and the Stade de France erupts. Ramos adds a sweet conversion and France lead by three.
Yellow card: Will Jordan (New Zealand)
59mins – France 16 New Zealand 13
New Zealand winger Will Jordan sees yellow after colliding with Ramos in the air. It looked really clumsy from Jordan, who had his eyes on the ball but didn’t really get off the ground as Ramos went up to claim possession. There’ll be a TMO bunker review to decide if the card should be upgraded to a red.
59mins – France 16 New Zealand 13
Ramos pulls a penalty attempt wide. Time for another water break. Also confirmation that Jordan’s yellow card will not be upgraded to red.
PENALTY: France 19 (Ramos) New Zealand 13
65mins: France 19 New Zealand 13
Ramos slots another three and France open up a bit of lead as we enter the last 15. The French bench has made a good impact over the last few minutes, but New Zealand still very much in this.
69mins: France 19 New Zealand 13
New Zealand send in Brodie Rettalick for Sam Whitelock – not a bad change to be able to make.
PENALTY – France 22 (Ramos) New Zealand 13
74mins: France 22 New Zealand 13
Another penalty for France, and they decide to go for the posts. Ramos lines up the shot and nails the kick from distance, making it a two score game. That just might be enough for France.
77mins: France 22 New Zealand 13
France thought they might have had a second try but the ball is deemed to have been knocked forward by Penaud – not 100% sure myself. There’s been a frustrating lack of replays all night.
Dupont and Ramos are off for France.
TRY – France 27 (Jaminet) New Zealand 13
80mins: France 27 (Jaminet) New Zealand 13
And there’s the icing on the cake for the France. They turn the ball over, kick the ball in behind and Mo’unga can’t deal with the awkward bounce as Jaminet comes flying in to collect the ball and dot down. The Stade de France is hopping.
FULL-TIME: France 29 New Zealand 13
So there we go, France are up at running at the Rugby World Cup. Not the highest quality contest but an entertaining start to the tournament. Thanks for joining our live coverage tonight, Murray Kinsella’s match report will be on The 42 shorty. Enjoy the rest of the weekend’s rugby!
