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Rugby World Cup 2023 Live

Rugby World Cup 2023 Live

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Summary

Coverage of the men's tournament for rugby union national teams. It takes place in nine venues across France.

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France v New Zealand

Summary

France v New Zealand (Kick-off 8.15pm). Mark Pougatch presents all the action from the opening match of the tournament, as the Pool A rivals meet at Stade de France in Paris. The hosts reached the quarter-finals four years ago in Japan and will be expecting a strong showing this time around in front of their own fans. However, they begin their tournament with arguably the toughest possible fixture, as the All Blacks go into the tournament as favourites to lift the trophy despite losing out to England in the semi-finals in 2019. With analysis from Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O'Driscoll and Maggie Alphonsi, reports by Jill Douglas, Bryan Habana, Sean Fitzpatrick and Benjamin Kayser, and commentary by Miles Harrison, Ben Kay and Jamie Roberts

Review

Max Copeman

World Cup curtain raisers can often be games defined more by the occasion than the actual sport, but not this one. The rugby World Cup kicks off in Paris with a face-off fit for the final as hosts France, a team many people fancy to win their first World Cup, start their Pool A fixtures against New Zealand, the most successful rugby nation in history.

For Fabien Galthié’s Les Bleus, pre-tournament talk has arguably been more about who won’t play as opposed to who will, after star fly half Romain Ntamack sustained a knee injury that will keep him out of the whole tournament. Although that loss will be sorely felt, Bordeaux Bègles number ten Matthieu Jalibert is a capable deputy – and he’ll be heartened to have Antoine Dupont by his side at scrum half, a player declared as among the best in the world by RT’s line-up of ITV pundits.

Of course, there is no shortage of talent in the All Blacks ranks either, and sure to match any French physicality will be hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, who ex-captain and World Cup winner Sean Fitzpatrick has tipped to turn heads.

Seven weeks, 48 games and nearly 4,000 minutes of top-level sport starts here.

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