2023-09-06 06:23:33
France – New Zealand. You don’t have to be a rugby expert to know that’s a huge shock. The XV of France, one of the big favorites for its home World Cup, will challenge the New Zealand ogre, its haka and its three world champion titles to its name, in the opening match this Friday at 21 hours. But how is it possible to have a final-like duel from day one?
For this, we have to go back to the draw which took place in December 2020. At that time, for the composition of the different hats, it is the world ranking on January 1, 2020 which takes precedence. France, 7th on this date, was therefore placed in hat 2 alongside Ireland, Australia and Japan. Fabien Galthié’s team could therefore fall into the pool of South Africa, New Zealand, England or Wales.
“How can you miss such a poster? »
With the lucky hand of chef Guy Savoy, it was finally the All Blacks who found themselves in Pool A with the tricolor host country. A draw which can be seen as good news since, in the event of qualification, the Blues could avoid the New Zealanders, until the final! As a reminder, the two teams share the rest of the pool with Italy, Uruguay and Namibia.
The XV of France could therefore also have faced one of its three teams. The choice to start with a shock against the All Blacks was taken by the organizing committee of the World Cup in February 2021. “How to miss such a poster for the opening match? It was impossible”, had simply justified the boss of France 2023, Claude Atcher, who all the same recognized that “financial and sporting considerations” had come into play.
The 8th France – New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup will take place on September 8, 2023 ????
Who will emerge victorious in the opening match of the #RWC2023 ? pic.twitter.com/0LGjSQ7yiW
— Rugby World Cup France 2023 (@France2023) July 7, 2023
The opening match at the Stade de France will be sold out, with all seats having already been sold out. For the less lucky, it will be broadcast live on TF 1 at 9 p.m. this Friday.
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