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A game between New Zealand and France evokes so many memories: the finals of 1987 and 2011, both won by the All Blacks; the dramatic semifinal of 99 and the quarterfinals of 2007, both won by Les Tricolores.
New Zealand and France have combined to offer some of the most storied matches in Rugby World Cup history.
The next one could come on the September opening night of the 2023 tournament.
The group stage draw for the upcoming World Cup saw some family clashes on Monday, including the three-time All Blacks champion who was placed in the same five-team group as host nation France.
A game between New Zealand and France evokes so many memories: the finals of 1987 and 2011, both won by the All Blacks; the dramatic semifinal of 99 and the quarterfinals of 2007, both won by Les Tricolores.
Inside the Palais Brongniart in Paris, there were cheers as the teams were paired again in the draw.
The match schedule will be finalized in February after consulting with French team officials, but France coach Fabien Galthie wants his team to face New Zealand in the first match.
“Why not?” Galthie said. “They are a beautiful team. Everyone in rugby loves New Zealand, the All Blacks. It will be very exciting “.
There was additional excitement in the teams that came together just weeks after the death of former French winger Christophe Dominici, whose brilliant attempt helped turn the tide against the All Blacks in their classic semi-final at Twickenham 21 years ago.
New Zealand has never lost a group match in a Rugby World Cup. France should benefit from playing at home, and they are on the rise with one of the most talented young squads in international football.
None of that bodes well for Italy, who joined the same group, with the All Blacks for the seventh time, a record. But they never played their group match in 2019 in Japan due to a typhoon.
As with New Zealand and France, Wales and Australia have faced a record seven times in the tournament and met again in Group C in what appeared to be the most difficult group. That’s because the always dangerous Fiji was the third seed in the group.
The last time the World Cup was hosted by France, in 2007, Fiji beat Wales 38-34 in a classic and decisive group final in Nantes. The teams will meet in a fourth consecutive World Cup group since then.
Defending champion South Africa will face Ireland and Scotland in Group B.
“We saw last year that the margin of error, even during the group stages, in any Rugby World Cup is very small,” said Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber. “Take, for example, our situation where we just had to win every group game after our loss to the All Blacks in Japan, to make sure we qualify for the knockout stages.”
England, Japan and Argentina were placed in Group D. That will see England coach Eddie Jones take on a Japanese team with whom they planned the most surprising upset in tournament history, when Japan beat South Africa 34-32 in 2015. Jones’s mother is also Japanese-American.
So will it be an emotional occasion for Jones?
“I don’t think so,” Jones said, laughing along with Japan coach Jamie Joseph in a video call. “Jamie doesn’t need any of my emotions. But it was great to see the highlights of past World Cups and see the number of editions of Japan’s World Cup triumphs.
“They play the game differently and we don’t have many opportunities to play against teams like Japan.”
Argentina couldn’t get out of their group at last year’s World Cup, but they recalled their qualities by beating New Zealand 25-15 in November for their first win over the All Blacks and having two draws with Australia.
“They are probably the most contrasting group in terms of style and philosophy of play,” Jones said. “That’s what makes it so interesting.”
The remaining eight qualifiers, two for each group, will be known in November 2022, less than a year before the tournament, after a regional qualification process. At least two will each come from the Americas and Europe, as well as one from Oceania, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.
The seeds for the draw were based on the world rankings in early 2020 because some teams, including South Africa and Japan, have not played in 2020 due to the coronavirus
pandemic.
France would have been among the top seeded in its current form, and Galthie would have rejuvenated Les Tricolores, who is ranked No. 4, since taking over as coach after the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
“We have watched with admiration the way they are rebuilding the team,” All Blacks coach Ian Foster said. “They are building something special for 2023. The fact that we know the size of the challenge now has given us a clear focus and one that we cannot wait.”
The top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals. And the draw set up a possible quarter-final between South Africa and New Zealand or France, and possibly England against Wales or Argentina.
The 10th Rugby World Cup will be the second hosted by France. It will be held in nine cities and will run from September 8 to October 21.
French President Emmanuel Macron attended the draw and said his country promises to bring “French know-how and savoir-faire” to the event.
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