France will kick off the Rugby World Cup against New Zealand on Friday without their influential midfielder Jonathan Danty. The La Rochelle centre has returned to training this week but has not yet fully recovered from a hamstring strain and will be replaced in the starting line-up by Yoram Moefana.
The rest of the starting XV has a largely familiar look but injuries to regulars such as Paul Willemse, Romain Ntamack and Cyril Baille have required the head coach, Fabien Galthié, to reshuffle his resources slightly. Cameron Woki will start in the second row alongside Thierry Flament, Reda Wardi replaces Baille at loosehead prop and Matthieu Jalibert retains the vacant No 10 jersey.
The French captain, Antoine Dupont, is clearly looking forward to the challenge, despite the accompanying pressure of an expectant home nation. “We have the ingredients for the result to be positive,” said Dupont, eagerly awaiting the chance to face the All Blacks in a blockbuster opening fixture. “It is the most beautiful team to play. When I was a child, like a lot of people, I loved this team.”
Dupont is also wary of the threat the All Blacks, who thrashed Les Bleus 62-13 in the 2015 World Cup quarter-finals, pose. “The whole game will be tough. They have very few weaknesses, they’re consistent and also have this capacity to swing the momentum of a test. Now we have a responsibility to achieve something great,” he said.
The Counter Ruck: the rugby newsletter from The Irish Times
Unbreakable, a cautionary tale about the heavy toll top-level rugby can take
Jacques Nienaber: ‘It was never the case that Rassie and I didn’t enjoy Munster or Ireland’
Joe Schmidt factor makes Australia game special for Ireland and Andy Farrell
France have lost their last three World Cup matches against New Zealand, in 2015 and in 2011, when they were beaten in the pool phase and in the final. Their last victory against their great rivals in the competition dates back to 2007, when they won 20-18 in the quarter-finals.
Anton Lienert-Brown replaces the injured Jordie Barrett at inside centre in one of three changes to the New Zealand starting side for the France game.
Barrett has been struggling with a knee problem and did not train this week so Lienert-Brown will play his second test of the year alongside Rieko Ioane in midfield for the blockbuster clash at Stade de France.
Codie Taylor returns at hooker after a hamstring issue and Nepo Laulala comes in at tighthead prop for Tyrel Lomax, who needed 30 stitches in a cut to his leg after the crushing loss to South Africa in New Zealand’s final warm-up.
In the backrow, Dalton Papali’i, who usually plays on the openside, starts as blindside flanker with Shannon Frizell still ruled out by a hamstring issue. – Guardian/Reuters
France team to play New Zealand: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Gabin Villiere; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (capt); Reda Wardi, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio; Cameron Woki, Thibaud Flament; Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Boudehent, Maxime Lucu, Arthur Vincent, Melvyn Jaminet.
New Zealand team to play France: Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Telea; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ethan de Groot, Codie Tayloe, Nepo Laulala; Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett; Dalton Papali’i, Sam Cane (capt), Ardie Savea.
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku.
