2023-09-08 23:10:42
The XV of France triumphed over the All Blacks on Friday for its first World Cup match with a score of 27-13. Quite simply New Zealand’s first group loss in World Cup history. Something to start the party at home for the French.
Published on: 09/08/2023 – 23:10Modified on: 09/09/2023 – 00:20
3 mn
It was the first shock of the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup. A dream poster. France against New Zealand. And, after 80 tense minutes, it was the XV of France who won. Led by their captain Antoine Dupont, the Blues beat the All Blacks (27-13). The New Zealand “haka” will not have made the French tremble.
The Blues were however picked up cold in the first period despite the heatwave. After barely two minutes of play, Mark Telea scored a try which was not converted by New Zealand n°10 Richie Mo’unga (0-5).
The reaction is not long in coming. Three minutes later (5th), the French manage to come back to score thanks to a penalty converted by Thomas Ramos (3-5). But a hard blow for the Blues came in the twelfth minute of play with the exit due to injury of Julien Marchand. He is replaced by Peato Mauvaka.
The French then go ahead thanks to a new penalty converted by Thomas Ramos (6-5) in the 20th minute. And although the All Blacks regained the advantage in the 25th minute (6-8) thanks to a penalty taken by Richie Mo’unga, the XV of France held on and scored three additional points after a third penalty, taken by Thomas Ramos (29th). In this match which is played at the foot, the back of the XV of France does not succeed in transforming the fourth penalty for the French in the 34th and misses the opportunity to widen the gap. The score will not move until half-time. 9-8 for the Blues.
The Blues widen the gap
The second period starts as it began: with a New Zealand try, signed, once again, Mark Telea (43rd) and not converted. 9-13 for the All Blacks. And, once again, France responded a few minutes later with the first French try of the competition. It is signed Damian Penaud (55th) and transformed in stride by Thomas Ramos (16-13).
If the latter misses a penalty on the hour mark, he redeems himself immediately to bring the score to 19-13 then 22-13 in favor of the XV of France (65th, 74th).
The Blues hit the nail on the head and secured their victory four minutes later with another try, this time from Melvyn Jaminet (78th), bringing the score to 27-13. The transformation is missed, preventing the XV of France from making this opening match their biggest historic victory against the All Blacks (40-25, or fifteen points of difference inflicted in November 2021). But this match will remain in the annals of the oval all the same: in 10 editions, it is the first defeat of the New Zealanders in a group match.
Next match for the Blues: September 14 against Uruguay, at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, in Lille.
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