France is rolling out unprecedented security measures across the country ahead of tomorrow's opening game of the Rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks take on France at 7.15 tomorrow morning, New Zealand time.
The French government is mobilising a record number of police at every game, keen to avoid a repeat of the dangerous and chaotic scenes at the Champions League football final at the Stade de France last year.
Newstalk ZB rugby commentator, Elliott Smith, told Mike Hosking that armed police are out in force in Paris, particularly around team hotels and team areas.
He says French officials are very worried and are being stringent about making sure nothing goes wrong at this event.
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'Notre histoire': French newspaper set the tone for RWC opener
-Will Toogood, NZ Herald
French national sporting newspaper L’Equipe have set an early tone for the Rugby World Cup opener.
Against the foreground of the All Blacks in full flow of a rendition of Kapa o Pango, current and former members of Les Blues can be seen linking arms in a cold-faced challenge to the haka.
L'Equipe's front and back page feature former and current France stars (from right) Thierry Dusautoir, Grégory Alldritt, Emile Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert, Christophe Dominici and Antoine Dupont. Photo / L'Equipe
The cover leaves nothing to the imagination as to the mood in France ahead of the World Cup.
The headline “Notre histoire” or “our history” alludes to the intense rivalry between the French rugby team and the All Blacks - particularly at World Cups.
Thierry Dusautoir, far left in the photo, captained the French in their 2011 World Cup campaign. One of the All Blacks’ great adversaries, his battles with Richie McCaw were particularly epic. The openside flanker was considered one of, if not, the best tackler in the world during his playing days, breaking the record for most tackles in a game in 2007 against New Zealand with 38. He was Man of the Match in the 2011 Final, scoring France’s only try.
Number eight Grégory Alldritt, who stands to Dusatoir’s right in the photo, won his first cap in 2019 and was 2023′s European Professional Club Rugby Player of the Year, so is a worthy inclusion in this prestigious list with the year he has had for La Rochelle.
Third from left comes Emile Ntamack, father of injured French first five-eighth Romain Ntamack. He was part of the Grand Slam-winning French side in 1997 and played in both 1991 and 1995 World Cups. He was also formerly France’s attack coach.
With a touch of class, on Ntamack’s left comes the man who is replacing his son as France’s first five - Matthieu Jalibert. The 24-year-old made his international debut at just 19, so is no stranger to being thrust into the big occasion. Earning 26 caps so far, he is far from inexperienced - but many French hopes will be riding on his shoulders come September 9 (Saturday morning, September 10 NZT).
Again, L’Equipe show class with their next inclusion. Christophe Dominici passed away in 2020 - New Zealand Rugby saying at the time: “Small in stature but a titan on the field, Christophe Dominici, we will never forget you.” In a career that spanned 17 years, the winger cemented himself as a giant of French rugby, scoring 25 tries in 67 caps for France.
It wouldn’t be a list of great current and former French players without Antoine Dupont - the halfback has been the main rival to Aaron Smith for title of best in the world for some time. Named 2021 World Player of the Year, and along with Brian O’Driscoll, Dupont is one of only two to win Six Nations Player of the Tournament three times. Dupont’s resume is as good as they come - as is his pass, for that matter.
The All Blacks, performing Ka Mate, are confronted by the French before the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash. Photo / Getty Images
Significance of the cover
L’Equipe choosing to show their former and current stars accepting the challenge of the haka is of significance. In the ill-fated 2007 World Cup quarter-final, France stood literally toe-to-toe with the All Blacks as they laid the challenge of Te Rauparaha’s Ka Mate. This electrified the atmosphere of the fixture
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