Les Bleus defeated three-time Webb-Ellis winners the All Blacks convincingly Friday at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, a suburb outside Paris. Two second-half tries by winger Damian Penaud in the 55th minute and replacement fullback Melvyn Jaminet in the 79th minute helped France to a 27-13 victory.
At last the much-anticipated Rugby World Cup opener. Over the years, Les Bleus and the All Blacks have met seven times in rugby world cups. Despite historic New Zealand dominance, the encounters have been unpredictable, exciting and – depending on who you support – devastating. France’s victory on Friday evening was no exception.
