Dalton Papali'i after the All Blacks' loss to France in the opening match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup . Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Media around the world have written of France winning the Rugby World Cup opening game - one outlet describes a "zombified" All Blacks team after their loss.
The Guardian focused on both the French party atmosphere as the French team won - and the disorientation as the All Blacks, perennial winners, lost.
Their correspondent Jonathan Liew wrote of the scenes at the Stade de France:
"The air was thick with joy and sweetness. Nobody was leaving. In an unfathomable September heatwave, France was having a scorching summer party, and even though the game was over, all eyes were on the dancefloor....
"Meanwhile, the black shirts of New Zealand paced around a little dazed and confused. There is nothing quite as disorienting as the sight of beaten All Blacks. Everybody loses, but somehow when New Zealand lose it is as if they have been deprogrammed. They stumble around zombified, occasionally feigning a smile or a grimace, but mostly wondering what the hell just happened."
The Daily Mail said France had laboured to take control of the match, despite their supremacy in the forwards, but finally ran out ahead of the All Blacks in a match which had started with the crowd showing disdain for President Emmanuel Macron, roundly booing him as he spoke, and ended with an oupouring of Gallic pride.
"France are surely now favourites to win the tournament, with Pool A victory all but secured.
"New Zealand may have to do it the hard way. They don't look their old selves, and they may now have to settle for second place."
Matthieu Jalibert celebrates France’s win over the All Blacks. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
South Africa's News24 site called it a "dream start" for France, saying they had outmuscled the All Blacks.
The nation's Independent Online also focused on the fact the All Blacks had lost their first ever pool match at a Rugby World Cup.
The Scotsman preferred to focus on the nation's determined journey to a place at the next men's Football World Cup - Scotland beat Cyprus overnight - but it did find space to point out the French win, saying that while it never reached heights as a spectacle, the ruthless win by France showcased their intent to be world champions.
Wales Online, covering rugby in detail for that other rugby-mad nation in the world, said there had been chaos at the Stade de France after the score changed after full-time. It told its readers:
"France full-back Melvyn Jaminet thought he had just put the icing on the cake of a famous French victory over New Zealand with his conversion in the final moments against the All Blacks. However, the score has now been changed by World Rugby, after the game finished.
"Jaminet had just come on to replace Thomas Ramos, who had a fantastic performance from the tee on the opening night. A tough act to follow, but he scored a try just minutes after coming on, to put the game beyond the All Blacks. 29-13 in fact.
"A proficient kicker in the Six Nations of 2022, the full-back lined up to convert his own score. It flew above the sticks, and one touch judge stuck his flag up indicating a score, while the other left his down.
"The scoreboard indicated that it was indeed a successful attempt, but that has now been changed by World Rugby.
"The official score line is now 27-13."
Photo: AFP
Wales Online went on to point out the booing of President Emmanuel Macron at the opening ceremony, which it labelled a "bizarre" event, before saying that France had scored a decisive win.
Across the Tasman, our Anzac cousins kindly pointed out the historic nature of the win as France inflicted the first defeat in a pool match at the Rugby World Cup on the All Blacks since Cups began in 1987.
The French can now dare to dream, said writer Tom Decent in the Sydney Morning Herald.
He went on to say, the All Blacks' "perfect record has been spoiled by a clinical French side who were impressive at scrum-time and led brilliantly by their dangerous captain and livewire captain Antoine Dupont".
The ABC pointed out, "The French, who have made the final three times but have never lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup, proved they would be a force with their victory over the All Blacks." "The All Blacks were rattled" by losing Will Jordan to a yellow card, it noted.
Mark Telea of New Zealand tackled by Damian Penaud of France. Rugby World Cup France 2023, France v New Zealand All Blacks pool match at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on Friday 8 September 2023. Mandatory credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Japan Times preferred to focus on big news in the sumo and baseball sports - and also explaining the haka which the All Blacks perform before every test, including the Rugby World Cup opener against France.
It pointed out that the haka had not always been as well performed as it is now.
"Originally, the All Blacks only did the haka when they played overseas, sometimes with mixed results as some non-Māori players seemed unsure of the actions.
"Video footage of a notoriously poor haka before a 1973 tour match in Cardiff showed few New Zealand players, aside from Māori scrumhalf Sid Going, seemed to know the movements.
"It wasn't until Sir Wayne 'Buck' Shelford made the All Blacks squad in the mid-1980s that the haka was practiced and then performed with the fierce focus seen today."
