Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby. This instance is for news, analysis and discussion of the sport of rugby.
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Kickoff Time 19:15 UTC
How to watch in your country: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/where-to-watch-and-broadcast-partners
Each Countries Starting Lineups
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings France Wins 1 Draws 0 New Zealand Wins 4
France Injuries: Jonathan Danty Romain Ntamack Paul Willemse Cyril Baille Anthony Jelonch
All Black Injuries: Tyrel Lomax Brodie Retallick Shannon Frizell Jordie Barrett Emoni Narawa
What a fucking match to open the Rugby World Cup!!!
Man I want to see France do it if I am honest. Huge DuPont fan but Boks supporter.
Great run there, cut short by a great tackle!
What a cracker of a first game! God damn
I want to see some Tier 2 success, good matches ,some good storylines to follow throughout the Rugby World Cup and a new name on the trophy
Clear yellow. If he hits his head, a red, doesn't look it though. Which shows you how stupid referals are. He had no chance there, wiped him out. Outcome a lottery. Expect this to be red in a few years
Lol that camera view from above/behind the posts... I thought the posts were some kind of graphic on kicking angles!
I am doing the predictor on the world rugby site. I think I will have to factor in the heat bit more. Both sides tired but France seemed like they were gonna fall out
Aye, could see low scoring indeed. I bet on all defending teams of 20+ on my accumulator today
I've been watching MLR since it's inception, but this is my first time watching World Cup!
Only really my 4th! Loads of fun. A few upsets. Jeopardy. This world cup more than any previous!
Who's your MLR side?
Ma hometown SaberCats (or SaffaCats or SaberBocks if you're aware 🤣). If you're a fan of the league we have a [email protected] community here too.
I dunno who to support next season now that they've taken RATL away from us :(
I guess Miami is the closest to you now, but that's still quite a haul. If STL materializes they're not much closer, eh?
In the cup here my closest ancestors among the competing nations are Italian, then I think English, and French a distant 3rd. So I guess I have a few options to root for!
I was 5 minutes late to the game. Missed most of the best bits!
Great try. An inevitability about it. NZ not getting the pens or the steals in defense
Didn't recover after the yellow. France here looking almost certain finalists. Sunday just got more interesting!
Too many penalties conceded from the All Blacks
Yup, 4-11 a telling stat at 70'
Got to play to the ref! But ABs also over playing with a lack of physical dominance. NH vs SH gap has almost certainly shut after this
Yeah I think they weathered the yellow ok, but the holding on penalty against Telea around that period, then the 2nd penalty from Jordan taking out the defending jumper really turned it.
ABs still haven't figured out how to stop the current meta of piggy back penalties down field. Some of the early scrum penalties were a bit harsh, but overall it shows that International rugby is about playing as little rugby as you can in your own half, and going for holding on penalties when on defence.
The ABs still haven't regularly managed to play like that, so if they're not dominating the scoreboard which forces the other team to play rugby instead of waiting for the referee then they struggle to win.
Obviously I don't like the way international rugby is played these days - but its on the ABs to adapt to that, and they've had since before the 2019 world cup and still haven't.
Real head and heart here for me today. Head says NZ, heart says France. Arse says a NZ red overshadows the match and all we hear are butthurt kiwis for the rest of the tournament
Well damn quite the arse you have there. Not quite red, but close lol
Worst challenge of the world cup so far!
If France win, let's hope the ref doesn't make any questionable decisions against NZ at all. If he does, we'll be hearing about it forever and he'll be getting death threats...
Lol, 90s in. Both looking up for this though!
France seemed to give up there! Play to the whistle!
Was worried after that start but can good in the end. I blame the awful rendition of the anthems.
Weirdly, France typically start the fastest and fade 40-60 minutes but today they did it the other way round - controlled in the first half and playing a bit more in the second.
Still think Ireland or SA for the overall after that.
HT and anyone's game! A point about right, neither side gaining an upper hand. NZ for me the more lively team
Can they maintain that liveliness through the insane heat though
God its a boring game to watch though. The crowd are making some of it seem a bit exciting but its been pretty dire rugby so far. Lots of slow caterpillar rucks for a box kick from the French, then a bunch of force back for a while before going to a lineout.
Just editing to make it clear I dont think NZ are doing much better. They're playing a bit more rugby but not exactly doing much once they get a half break. That Taylor pass to touch just before half time was a pretty good summary of where they're at.
Both sides afraid to lose. An early try to set it alight please