Rugby World Cup 2023: France v All Blacks – Eiffel Tower ‘built’ inside Stade de France

The long-awaited 2023 Rugby World Cup opener between hosts France and three-time champions the All Blacks will take place on Friday, 8 September.

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Kick-off at the Stade de France in Paris will be at 21:15 (SA time).

The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Prior to kick-off, the Opening Ceremony will take place at 20:00 (SA time).

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Heading into the Rugby World Cup, France won three of their four warm-up matches, slipping to a loss to Scotland at Murrayfield in the first of the quartet of Summer Nations series matches.

The All Blacks played just one match in warm-up in the north, losing by a record margin to the Springboks.

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All Blacks coach Ian Foster hopes to use that result as fuel to fire up his charges for their tilt at a record-breaking fourth Rugby World Cup title.

TEAMS

FRANCE

15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Reda Wardi

Substitutes: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifienua, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Maxime Lucu, 22 Arthur Vincent, 23 Melvyn Jaminet

NEW ZEALAND

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Dalton Papali’i, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot

Substitutes: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 David Havili, 23 Leicester Fainga’anuku

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