An incandescent Stade de France vibrated with the 27-13 success against the All Blacks which ideally launches the Blues in their World Cup.
La Pena Baiona, the Aviron Bayonnais anthem, will it mark the 10th edition of the world Cup and go around the whole planet? It is still too early to answer this essential question, but the song regularly sung in the Basque Country and in the rugby stadiums was the first great moment of emotion this Friday evening at the end of a successful opening ceremony at the Stade de France. Resumed in full force by the 80,000 spectators, it launched a fiery atmosphere at the end of a colourful, joyful and animated show by Jean Dujardin then ended with these words from Emmanuel Macron, previously whistled by a boiling public but unwelcoming to the presidential speech:I declare open the 10th edition of the World Cup»…
The announcement of the composition of the teams then the presentation of the Webb Ellis Cup by the legend Dan Carter and the hymns, the real ones, a capella, confirmed the Olympic form, rugby forgiveness, thousands of lucky people present in the enclosure of Saint -Denis. And it’s not the widely acclaimed Haka that cools the energy of an audience in fusion and almost entirely behind “her» XV of France.
The kick-off given, theGo Bluesdripped from the spans and were immediately calmed by the first hasty attempt of the men in black. The opportunity to see, and almost to count, the rare, delighted supporters of the All Blacks.
Confirming his quality, just as much as his state of form, but also, it must be recognized, his benevolent chauvinism, the “people of Francequickly regained his voice to push Fabien Galthié’s men. The encouragements followed, the whistles dripped at each hot spot, the growls and the broncas multiplied, like the tons of applause throughout an incandescent first half marked by a “who does not jump is not French“just as invigorating as the fight…
Between Whites-Blues far from being paralyzed by the challenge and All Blacks faithful to the legend, although quite far from their former grandeur, the second half was still unbreathable in the heart of a Stadium of France in turmoil. The temperature never dropped until the final whistle of a match which, beyond its winner, ideally launched this World Cup with its explosive and festive atmosphere. A great promise for the future.