The All Blacks have lost their opening match at the Rugby World Cup to host France 29-13. The All Blacks had opened the scoring with a try inside the opening minutes to wing Mark Talea, but trailed 9-8 at halftime. The second half saw the All Blacks concede multiple penalties with a final count 12-4 , and had Will Jordan sin-binned for a challenge in the air. Captain Sam Cane was scratched before the game due to a back injury, and this saw Tupou Vaa’i came in at blindside flanker, Dalton Papalii switch to the openside, and Brodie Retallick come into the reserves.

Tasman flanker Ethan Blackadder has been called into the squad as injury cover, and has replaced winger Emoni Narawa who is returning home with a back injury

New Zealand: 13 

Tries: Mark Telea 2, Penalty: Richie Mo'unga pen). HT: 9-8

France: 29 

Tries: Damian Penaud, Melvyn Jaminet tries; Thomas Ramos con, 5 pen)

All Blacks Named For Rugby World Cup Opener

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face France in the Rugby World Cup opening match against host France on Saturday 9th September, 7.15am NZT.

There are four changes to the starting side that lost the final warm up match to South Africa at Twickenham. Jordie Barrett has been unable to train this week with a knee injury, and has been replaced at second five by Anton Lienert-Brown, Tyrel Lomax who cut his knee in the South African match requiring multiple stitches has been replaced by Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, replaces Dane Coles at hooker and Dalton Papalii replaces Luke Jacobson at blindside flanker.

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (c), Dalton Papalii, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tuungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku.

France:

Réda Wardi, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio, Cameron Woki, Thibaud Flament, François Cros, Charles Ollivon, Grégory Alldritt, Antoine Dupont (c), Matthieu Jalibert, Gabin Villière, Yoram Moefana, Gaël Fickou, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos

Reserves:

Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Boudehent, Maxime Lucu, Arthur Vincent, Melvyn Jaminet.