Rugby World Cup 2023 LIVE: Latest build-up to France vs New Zealand in Paris

The man charged with delivering France first ever World Cup is their magical scrum-half, Antoine Dupont. Here’s our writer Luke Baker on the man at the heart of the French bid for glory:

The more of France you watch, the more you realise – this is Antoine Dupont’s world and we’re all just living in it.

Dupont has a skillset that is unique among not only scrum halves but all rugby players. The vision and distribution that any world-class No 9 has is married with a sniping acceleration and fleetness of foot up there with the best wingers in the world.

A low centre of gravity gives him the strength of a bowling ball skittling defenders and means he is seemingly impervious to the disruptive influence of opposition flankers lurking around the ruck.

His partnership for club and country with now-injured fly half Romain Ntamack is telepathic and he directs the French attack with the grace and confidence of an orchestra conductor. Simply put, and with apologies to reigning World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year Josh van der Flier, Dupont is the best player in the world.

If Les Bleus are to finally get over the line and lift the Rugby World Cup for the first time, having been runners-up on three occasions, their talismanic No 9 will have to deliver the goods. And make no mistake, that is the expectation.

The ‘Ka Mate’ haka has been associated with New Zealand rugby since the 1888 when an unofficial “Natives” team made up of Maori toured Britain. The practice has since been adopted by sporting teams of all types and is often also performed at funerals, weddings and other major events.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster said how France reacted was entirely a matter for the French.

“Historically they have some sometimes and not other times and we’re at peace with that,” he told reporters on the eve of the match. “We’re happy for the opposition to respond however they want to the haka. For us, it’s a special part of our legacy, of who we are as a team and how we connect to each other and to the past.

“One thing I do know is that they’ll respect that, because they’ve got a history of respecting the haka. The fact they may respond in different ways … is not seen by us as a lack of respect.”

One of the most eagerly awaited moments in the World Cup opener between New Zealand and France on Friday might come before kickoff at Stade de France when the All Blacks perform the haka.

All eyes will be on how the tournament hosts react to the traditional Maori challenge, especially given the French have provided two of the most memorable responses at previous World Cups.

The first came ahead of the 2007 quarter-final in Cardiff when the French, led by the fearsome brooding figure of Sebastien Chabal, linked arms and stood inches away from the All Blacks as they performed the ritual.

That set the tone for France’s stunning 20-18 upset of the runaway tournament favourites.

The second came before the 2011 final when the French lined up in a chevron formation behind skipper Thierry Dusautoir before linking arms and advancing just across the halfway line to confront the thigh-slapping New Zealanders.

The All Blacks, again unbackable favourites, went on to win a second World Cup with a 8-7 win at Eden Park that night but only after they had withstood immense French pressure in the final quarter of the match.

The French were fined $3,000 by World Rugby for crossing the halfway line.

You can watch live as France and New Zealand fans arrive ahead of the Rugby World Cup openerh at the Stade de France, if that’s your thing:

It could be very hot tonight – the temperature in Paris is 34C right now and it not expected to drop dramatically before kick-off in a couple of hours.

So it’s good news that players grappling with the baking heat at the Rugby World Cup will be able to refresh themselves during extra water breaks midway through each half, World Rugby said on Friday.

Teams have been told that referees will be able to call the breaks at a natural pause in play during each half.

The heat is expected to persist through the weekend and across the country, exerting a gruelling toll even despite the 9pm kick-offs scheduled for many of the games. Temperatures of around 32C are expected in Bordeaux on Sunday, where Wales face Fiji in the pool C opener.

World Rugby said the measure has been used before and is within the tournament rules.

Just days before the big launch of the tournament, the national team was dragged into a racism scandal.

Lock Bastien Chalureau denied accusations he is racist during an emotional press conference following his controversial call-up for the World Cup, with the player appealing against a suspended six-month prison sentence for a racially motivated attack in 2020.

Here’s more on a man in the spotlight:

After all the talk, all the build-up and all the anticipation, the 2023 Rugby World Cup is almost upon us, and what a way to get going: hosts France take on three-time champions New Zealand in front of 80,000 delirious fans at the Stade de France. We’ve got just two more hours of talk, build-up and ancitipation before kick-off…

The 2023 Rugby World Cup begins tonight as the hosts France take on three-time champions New Zealand in Paris. You can follow all the build-up to the heavyweight clash and live coverage of the action right here.