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PARIS – Allez Les Bleus indeed. This party is just getting started in France after the host nation beat the All Blacks 27-13 on the opening night of the World Cup to ensure the packed Stade de France crowd went home happy.
On a sweltering Friday evening, where the temperature was still 30 degrees Celsius when the Test got underway at 9:20pm local time and the pressure could be cut through with a knife, France overturned a narrow deficit early in the second half to go home victors.
Damian Penaud’s try in the 55th minute a metre inside the touchline was the match-turning moment, as Matthieu Jalibert danced across the field to send his right-winger into score.
Damian Penaud celebrates with teammates after scoring France’s crucial try against the All Blacks in their World Cup opener at Stade de France on September 08, 2023 in Paris. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
With that both ecstasy and relief at once. A nation hitherto on tenterhooks with the atmosphere tense and a stark contrast to the festival and wildly joyful scenes from just a fortnight earlier when they easily put away Eddie Jones’ Wallabies.
Penaud’s try came a little over 10 minutes after All Blacks winger Mark Telea had comfortably run in his second try of the match despite a dubiously flat pass from Rieko Ioane that had seen the French fail to play to the whistle and the crowd, first, turn to shock and, next, anger.
South African referee Jaco Peyper had at once become the most unpopular man in France, as he waved away the home side’s men pleading their case. The replay, which eventually came, did nothing to silence the anger of 78,690 fans, who vented their frustrations seconds after Richie Mo’unga had missed from near the sideline.
But Penaud, a man who lit up the Stade de France a fortnight earlier with his stunning double, safely finished to ease the anxieties of a nation.
From that moment on, France never looked back as allez, allez echoed throughout the stadium.
A general view of the inside of the stadium ahead of the World Cup opener at the Stade de France on September 08, 2023 in Paris. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Will Jordan’s yellow card three minutes later for making contact in the air was another dagger in the hearts of Ian Foster’s men.
It was the most costly of New Zealand’s 12 conceded penalties, with France staying on the right side of the whistle by giving away just four.
More clumsy work in the air allowed Thomas Ramos, who had given France a 9-8 half-time lead following three first-half penalties, to step up and land his fifth three-pointer of the evening to see France move to a 22-13 lead after 74 minutes.
Penaud came close to lifting the roof off the stadium when he almost scooped up a grubber in behind the New Zealand defence but Peyper ruled a little knock-on.
But it didn’t matter. Another clever kick moments later from replacement halfback Maxime Lulu saw the ball stop on a dime and fool the impressive Mo’unga and allow replacement Melvyn Jaminet to score and give the home side another reason to celebrate.
The defeat was New Zealand’s first at the pool stage after 31 successive victories. It was also their heaviest World Cup defeat, ensuring the next month will be a nervy and high-octane environment following consecutive defeats.
“No, I don’t think we have to rebuild. Stats are stats and I understand all that. In the past we’ve won all our pool games and not necessarily won a tournament. The goal is to win the tournament,” Foster said in response to their maiden World Cup pool loss.
“Let’s be frank. This game was always going to be massive. We know how strong France are. We wanted to get excited about playing them and you saw that ambition from us.
Ian Foster says the mood inside the All Blacks remains a positive one despite their first World Cup pool loss. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
“We were just denied opportunities to really attack them in their half. There will be some aspects we’ll have to rebuild and get better at. We’re not down in the sheds. We’re frustrated we lost a game. We fired some good bullets at them. We just didn’t fire enough.”
Meanwhile, France cemented themselves as one of the competition’s favourites in a victory that will fill Fabien Galthie’s men with confidence.
Earlier, the metros were packed like sardines as fans arrived early to soak up an excited, sun-filled atmosphere where the beers flowed and joy radiated.
A half-hour opening ceremony, where a reconstructed Eiffel Tower went up in the centre of the field and the French culture was celebrated was followed by a spectacular fireworks display that sent shivers down spines.
Once the action got underway, the All Blacks dominated the early stages.
Rieko Ioane, the former World Rugby rookie of the year, broke free centre field from a smart set-piece lineout play.
France rallied, but only briefly. Telea scored in the second minute from Beauden Barrett’s cross-field kick.
Antoine Dupont gestures a thumbs-up at full-time following his side’s victory in their Rugby World Cup opener against the All Blacks at Stade de France on September 08, 2023 in Paris. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
From there the home side accumulated. Tupou Vaa’i, called into the starting side following Sam Cane’s late withdrawal, was pinged for not rolling away and Ramos knocked over his first three points of the night.
A scrum penalty saw Ramos give the home side a 6-5 lead after 20 minutes.
The All Blacks regained the lead after France were eventually pinged near their own goal line after 12 phases of defence. Acting captain Ardie Savea pointed to the sticks and Mo’unga gave the All Blacks a 8-6 lead.
While France were pinged at the kick restart, their clumsy mistake worked out well as the home side won a scrum penalty. Ramos did the rest, as his long boot saw them re-take the lead after 29 minutes.
The home side dominated the next few minutes but weren’t able to build their lead, as Ramos missed from out wide and New Zealand defended well.
But Foster’s men were made to rue not scoring on the stroke of half-time, as they found the touchline instead of their intended target out wide.
Mark Telea scored a double, including the tournament’s opening try, against Les Bleus at Stade de France on September 08, 2023 in Paris. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Telea’s early second half try put a nation on edge, but the class of France’s playmakers and their brilliant back-row, led by Gregory Alldritt, ensured Penaud’s response after 55 minutes.
From there France never looked back.
The win almost certainly will see France progress through to the quarter-finals in top spot, with Italy their next highest ranked opponents and Uruguay and Namibia also in the group.
France meet Uruguay in Lille on Thursday, while the All Blacks host Namibia one day later in Toulouse.
“We’ve just got to find another pathway through this pool now,” Foster said.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.