The anthems, the haka, the heat – the Rugby World Cup had not yet started, and yet one could already sense the insights that this opening game would bring. France against New Zealand is a game that could easily be the World Cup final at the end of October due to the qualities of both teams. But at the beginning of September, on one of the last hot summer evenings at the Stade de France in Paris, it initially became a test of willpower.
And it brought a clear result: France’s first World Cup game ended 27:13 on Friday – which, on the other hand, plunged the All Blacks into a mental crisis situation.
New Zealand engages in a lot of undisciplined actions
“We’re not down in the shed,” was the usual very New Zealand phrase that coach Ian Foster chose to express that despondency was not an option. But in a way New Zealanders are down in the stablewhere there is little sunlight: The first preliminary round defeat of the All Blacks, the three-time rugby world champions, in their history caused a considerable mood of crisis at home, where four and a half million people are expecting the cup again in seven weeks at Auckland airport.
Flight into the tournament: Frenchman Damian Penaud carries the ball over the line, New Zealand barely gets up after the try.
(Photo: Warren Little/Getty)
Analysis after analysis could be read after the defeat – always with the same tenor: As always, New Zealand had done nothing wrong in terms of fighting spirit, but had almost generously invited the French to score a home win at the start. The All Blacks repeatedly committed undisciplined actions at the start of the tournament, allowing the outstanding French kicker Thomas Ramos one penalty kick after another. This is how the French countered even after the early shock: 90 seconds after kick-off, when the haka, the traditional motivational dance, was still reverberating, the New Zealanders had already succeeded in their first attempt. A series of kicks and late tries in the second half, when the All Blacks were outnumbered for ten minutes after a yellow card, was enough for the ultimately clear result at the start.
France was allowed to choose their opening opponent, played high stakes – and won
The home nation has successfully overcome the emotional hurdle of the opening game. “We weren’t expecting this somewhat tense atmosphere. Even in the stands it was tense. We’re not used to this kind of atmosphere,” coach Fabien Galthié openly admitted after the game. The whole country had with his Tricolores excited, France is in rugby fever for the next seven weeks, from which the Quinze de France can now benefit because their brave move has worked: the host can choose their first group opponent at the World Cup. But while this usually leads to an easy opening game, the French chose the hardest possible start – and are now even bigger winners.
The All Blacks, on the other hand, can no longer afford any mistakes in Group A in order not to endanger their progression. This is likely to be the case especially in two weeks against the strong Italians, after all coach Foster still has time to rebuild his team by then. Captain Sam Cane, who was injured at short notice, is expected to return, as will Jordie Barrett at headquarters. For the time being, the only thing left to deal with the crisis is sayings in New Zealand slang, the always verbose Foster had another one ready: “We shot a few good bullets, we just didn’t shoot often enough.”