PARIS: France made an impressive start to their attempt to win a first Rugby World Cup as the host nation beat New Zealand 27-13 in a hot and humid tournament opener on Friday.

Roared on by a capacity crowd at the Stade de France, Thomas Ramos nervelessly kicked 17 points and Damian Penaud and Melvyn Jaminet scored a try each.

Mark Telea touched down twice for the All Blacks and it was only after Ramos’ 74th minute penalty that the home fans could celebrate before the rampant white-shirted French scored a final try as Jaminet grabbed Maxime Lucu’s chip.

France fought hard to prove that their tag as one of the favourites on home soil is well-deserved. For three-time champions All Blacks, it was the first time they had lost a World Cup pool match.

It was a successful start on the field to what will be a key test of France’s organisational skills ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, especially after the chaos that blighted last year’s football Champions League final at the Stade de France on the outskirts of Paris.

With the Olympics less than a year away, French authorities are under scrutiny to prove they have learned from the mistakes during the football showpiece between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

The World Cup is widely expected to provide a feast of attacking rugby.

Before the tournament, the bookmakers could barely separate reigning champions South Africa, the world’s number one side Ireland, France and the enigmatic All Blacks, although Friday’s performance will only serve to shorten the French odds.

By a quirk of the draw made three years ago, all four have been loaded into the same half, meaning at least two will be eliminated before the semi-final stage.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2023