![]() Squad: Forwards: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Nepo Laulala, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane (captain), Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papli’i, Ardie Savea. The first World Cup winners didn’t lose anywhere for three more years. So Kiwis, like everyone else, were blown away by a 1987 team which set new standards for skill, pace and fitness. World Cup high: The 1986 rebel tour of apartheid South Africa dimmed New Zealand’s passion for rugby. Valued enough to be carried despite a hamstring injured in training, he won’t be available for the France opener. New Zealand is still hoping he becomes the blindside flanker it has been wishing for since Jerome Kaino. The former Tonga youth soccer international has had an up-and-down test rugby career. The World Cup opener against France has turned into a measure of the All Blacks’ renowned powers of recovery. Foster wanted the warmup to get his side battle ready. They also started flat for a second straight test. They lost their poise, the leadership failed, and they didn’t throw a metaphorical punch. What hurt the All Blacks more was not the record size of the thrashing but their inability to problem solve on the field and combat their issues. Prospects: After crushing the Rugby Championship, New Zealand’s aura was scorched by South Africa at Twickenham in the last warmup. France crept back almost to par on Christope Lamaison’s crafty boot then unleashed 26 points in 13 minutes. A second Jonah Lomu try lifted New Zealand 24-10 ahead five minutes after halftime. World Cup high: The greatest World Cup comeback, the 1999 semifinal. He pops up everywhere, sniping from rucks, covering in defense, and creating tries. France’s poster boy and leader makes everyone around him look better. Lose, and France has three winnable pool games to regain momentum for a likely monster quarterfinal against probably Ireland or South Africa. ![]() The World Cup opener against New Zealand is a big deal only in attracting more eyeballs to the tournament. His understudy is Antoine Hastoy, who has five caps and one start. Flyhalf Romain Ntamack, who’d won 16 of his last 17 tests, was ruled out of the World Cup by an ACL injury but France doesn’t lose much in his replacement Matthieu Jalibert, who’s averaged a try or assist every 85 minutes since the last World Cup, the best rate by a tier one flyhalf. In its unbeaten run at home since November 2021, France has knocked over every other team ranked in the top 10. Les Tricolores have everything going for them good coaching, a sweetly executed four-year buildup, strength and depth and smarts, and home advantage. Prospects: This tournament is France’s to lose.
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