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France 24
France 24
Sport
Gregor THOMPSON

'Greatest rivalry in World Cup history': New Zealand to meet France in opener

World Cup France New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Rugby World Cup Jonah Lomu Fabien Galthié Graham Henry Les Bleus
File photo: New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu charges in front of French centre Richard Dourthe and winger Philippe Bernat-Salles during the Rugby World Cup semi-final match between New Zealand and France at Twickenham stadium on October 31, 1999. © Olivier Morin, AFP

France and New Zealand will run out before a sold-out Stade de France in the much-anticipated opening match of the Rugby World Cup in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis on September 8. The match is the eighth instalment in one of World Cup rugby’s fiercest rivalries.

New Zealand went into the 1999 Rugby World Cup as clear favourites. Everything was going to plan as Taine Randell's men rolled through their pool matches, handling the English comfortably and putting 100 points on Italy. The biggest thing in rugby, winger Jonah Lomu, had already scored six tries by the time they reached the notorious semi-final.

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