- Pool A: France 27-13 New Zealand
- Ramos scores 17 points to hand All Blacks’ first-ever pool loss
Rugby World Cups are not won or lost on the tournament’s first night but the opening fixture can often set the tone. On a sweltering evening in Saint-Denis, this was a game played in the most electric of sporting atmospheres, an early clue as to what awaits in the knockout stages. If crowds are half as enthusiastic as this for the entire competition, it is going to be a truly thunderous event.
From the giant golden Eiffel Tower on the pitch to the euphoric scenes inside and outside the stadium before kick-off, the whole occasion was a further illustration of just how much support the hosts will enjoy in the weeks ahead. The crowd did boo the French president, Emmanuel Macron, but their booming rendition of La Marseillaise was completely off the scale.
Written by Robert Kitson at the Stade de France
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/08/penaud-inspires-france-to-winning-start-to-rugby-world-cup-against-all-blacks under the title “Penaud inspires France to winning start at Rugby World Cup against All Blacks”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
