The centre stage has arrived at last to bring you the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup at Stade De France in Paris between the host nation, France v the All Blacks from New Zealand. The ABs opened the scoring first courtesy of a Beauden Barrett cross-kick assist towards Mark Talea on the left short-side as well as dominating the field earlier on that includes the penalty goal before a series of three-pointers from France of their own as saw them hold a one-point ball game at half-time, 9-8. Now Talea has put the ABs back in front once more, but France has turned themselves around thanks to their attacking spark off the back of tries from Damian Penaud & Melvyn Jaminet before they finally saw light at the end of day towards full-time with a big win 29-13.
Hats off to France’s No.10 Matthieu Jalibert who made his country’s attack spark that blew the All Blacks away in the 2nd half. Now he might not have been required to kick these extras, but he’s got youth by his side as well as loads of physicality for the benefit of the squad, such as these quick passes, blistering pace & some cross-kicks to get past the opposition gate. Next up is fellow Frenchman Thibaud Flament down on the second row at No.5 after he kept the ABs quiet while smashing back in return. He’s got such a tall frame where he’s being tested so well in all fronts that saw him capture every bit of the opposition weaknesses & from there, he uses that to help France finish off the work for him either way. The host nation is off to a red-hot start & hope they can stay that way to finally win a World Cup for the first time.
And Mark Talea has been an extraordinary finisher as always where he knows how to get the job done with back-to-back tries for the ABs at No.14. He credits some assistance here & there, especially when he wanted to get the ball so badly from afar before he has the licence to thrill as being tested there. But sadly, it wasn’t his day when a mix of ill-discipline & a poor 2nd half defense restricted the most of his attacking chances where the host nation has finally won against them on home soil.
