Rugby World Cup kicks off with French victory over All Blacks

PARIS: France made an impressive start to their attempt to win a first Rugby World Cup as the host nation beat New Zealand 27-13 in a hot and humid tournament opener on Friday.

Roared on by a capacity crowd at the Stade de France, Thomas Ramos nervelessly kicked 17 points and Damian Penaud and Melvyn Jaminet scored a try each.

Mark Telea touched down twice for the All Blacks and it was only after Ramos’ 74th minute penalty that the home fans could celebrate before the rampant white-shirted French scored a final try as Jaminet grabbed Maxime Lucu’s chip.

France fought hard to prove that their tag as one of the favorites on home soil is well-deserved.

“It was important to begin well by winning even if it was not a knockout match,” France head coach Fabien Galthie said.

“It was the culmination of our work before the tournament.”

For the All Blacks, it was the first time they had lost a World Cup pool match.

“In the past we’ve won all our pool games and not won the tournament,” said New Zealand coach Ian Foster.

“Our goal is to win this tournament.”

It was a successful start on the field to what will be a key test of France’s organizational skills ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, especially after the chaos that blighted last year’s football Champions League final at the Stade de France on the outskirts of Paris.

With the Olympics less than a year away, French authorities are under scrutiny to prove they have learned from the mistakes during the football showpiece between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

The World Cup is widely expected to provide a feast of attacking rugby.

Before the tournament, the bookmakers could barely separate reigning champions South Africa, the world’s No. 1 side Ireland, France and the