Love is in the air as France gear up for New Zealand clash

RUEIL MALMAISON, France :France do not feel the weight of expectations as they prepare for a mouthwatering World Cup curtain raiser against three-time champions New Zealand in a joyous atmosphere even if they have been hit by a string of injuries.

Yoram Moefana will start at centre to make up for the absence of the injured Jonathan Danty, while flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert will pair up with Antoine Dupont for the Stade de France clash and Les Bleus will also have to do without prop Cyril Baille and flyhalf Romain Ntamack, who are missing out on the tournament through injury.

"We're getting into this match with the best France team," head coach Fabien Galthie told a news conference on Wednesday.

Les Bleus, who are gunning for a maiden World Cup title, finished their preparations with a convincing 41-17 victory against Australia and will take some confidence into Friday's game having beaten the All Blacks for the first time since 2009 two years ago.

Friday's match will be a different affair in a different context, but Galthie insisted his team are ready for a celebration.

"We're here to play, we're happy to play. We love each other so much," he said.

"We don't have a eight on our shoulders. We're light, very light and very happy to play this game and start against New Zealand.

"There is an invisible force in this squad. What we tried to build is a team full of love for one another. It is something irrational and we will see it on Friday.

France might be feeling light and impervious to negative pressure, they will not take things lightly against a team who won all their Pool matches in nine World Cup participations.

New Zealand won the Four Nations but their last test turned into a nightmare as they suffered a 35-7 record defeat by