France v All Blacks: Five takeaways from the Rugby World Cup opener as Les Bleus lay down a marker

James While
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France after beating the All Blacks at Rugby World Cup.

France after beating the All Blacks at Rugby World Cup.

Following a 27-13 victory for France over New Zealand in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup, here’s our five takeaways from the clash in Paris on Friday.

The top line

France sent out a thunderous message to all at the Rugby World Cup as they disposed of three-time world champions New Zealand, winning with a display of relentless defence and pinpoint goal-kicking. It finished 27-13 but it might have been very different had Richie Mo’unga not left his kicking boots at the hotel as he fluffed four chances under the sticks.

Two tries from Mark Telea, remarkably both at 1 minute and 20 odd seconds into each half and almost carbon copies of each other were cancelled out by scores from the brilliant Damian Penaud and replacement full-back Melvyn Jaminet.

Whilst New Zealand got on the wrong side of the card count for the second successive match, their discipline was improved and although they conceded only 11 penalties, at least five of those were within the range of the siege gun Thomas Ramos boot, which duly obliged with. It was a rusty and rather rudderless display from the All Blacks who clearly missed Jordie Barrett at 12, but for the hosts it couldn’t have gone much better.

Roasting

The heat. It cannot be understated.

Given the conditions outside and inside the ground, the insane pressure that the organisers were put under with almost the whole of France turning up in St Denis precisely at 5pm, and the endless queues for everyone, including a two hour line even for the media to get past the endless security checks, this match was a crackerjack and one that underlined the hope the French public have within their team.

At times part of the ground and concourse topped 40 degrees. Fans collapsed in the queuing crowd one with a suspected heart attack before kick off and most of the crowd became a horrible sweaty mess as the temperature and humidity just enveloped players, spectators and officials alike.

On the pitch, rather surprisingly given the conditions, France played a high contact, forward orientated kick and maul game, but when the time to strike they did so with thunderclap surprise. It removed any doubts over their fitness and they got stronger the longer the game continued. On the flip side, the All Blacks looked to play precision low contact rugby, conserving their energy but in doing so they could never quite free themselves from France’s defensive excellence.

In the final analysis the day was melting, the queues were endless, the organisation was pitiful and the opening ceremony was incomprehensible, but even the biggest cynic would admit that the tournament exploded into life to a deafening 78,690 in Paris. It was an epic evening and the extreme weather just seemed to add to the occasion in some bizarre way.

French defence

When Francois Cros removes his lycra base layer and Gregory Alldritt dispenses with his scrum cap due to the elements, you start to think that the Climate Change protestors may have a point. But these two brilliant loose forwards, so often in the shadow of Antoine Dupont and Ramos, put in shifts of absolutely relentless and bone shuddering defence.

Cros in particular led the French blitz in the 12 channel with roaring pace into the faces of the All Blacks. He missed one tackle, but his reaction was to instantly track back, retackle and his pal Alldritt moved in alongside him to steal, a brilliant technical moment. With Gael Fickou producing miracle close-offs and tackles around the 13 corner, some of the French defensive shifts were absolutely remarkable, one towards the end of the first half in particular seeing New Zealand pushed back metre by metre until they inevitably conceded a turnover from the sheer pressure France exerted. Sure, you might argue Sam Cane’s withdrawal before kick off with an injury was a crucial issue, but France can only play what’s in front of them and Cane wasn’t part of that.

Whilst Fickou closed and Cros crushed, Alldritt was brilliant in the steal and the carry, and with Ramos backing up his men with a brilliant display off the tee, this was one of those wins that has coaches purring with pride over both the system and team success.

All Black issues

This is a high quality New Zealand side but by no means is it a great one.

Uini Atonio, at times resembling a huge white melting snowman, absolutely dismantled the Kiwi scrum and it was his efforts that got France back into the game after a shaky start. The simple truth is the drop off between Tyrel Lomax and the next best tighthead is huge and Fletcher Newell evaporated under the heat and pressure that came his way. It’s a real worry for New Zealand, especially considering the pressure Ethan de Groot came under from Atonio on the other side.

And for once, perish the thought, but New Zealand were pretty lateral at times, crabbing across the pitch and struggling for the big carrier either at 12 or six to get them momentum. Their tries came from opportunistic cross-kicks when France got narrow and it’s testimony to his incredible gas that he finished both with such ease.

In the aerial battle New Zealand got one yellow when Will Jordan took out Ramos, and once again towards the end for a penalty but on three other occasions we might have seen another card or penalty go France’s way as the Kiwi backs were particularly clumsy in the challenge, something they need to eliminate from their game.

France move forward

France have a quick turnaround to meet Uruguay on Thursday next week and given the need for the heat-exhausted bodies to recover, you can bet your bottom dollar Fabien Galthie will explore his reserves and get game time into his squad.

They have a potential issue at hooker with their Toulouse talisman Julien Marchand nursing a thigh injury and being withdrawn at the 30 minute mark, but the number two shirt has ridiculous depth in France and that won’t be too much of an issue.

However, Jonathan Danty cannot come back quick enough. He was sorely missed and it took France a long time to deliver the momentum from elsewhere that Danty habitually brings. France will also consider their lineout didn’t have the return it usually manages and they’ll look to improve both of those areas.

But in the final analysis, this victory vindicated the FFR’s decision to play the All Blacks up front and first to make a statement. And a statement France made, with a display that might not rock the tournament but will certainly worry any side that’s slated to come up against them.

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