France-New Zealand: a fiery atmosphere for a great promise

Will La Pena Baiona, the anthem of Rowing Bayonnais, mark the 10th edition of the World Cup and tour the entire planet? It is still too early to answer this essential question but the song regularly sung in the Basque Country and in 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 at full throttle by the 80,000 spectators, it launched a fiery atmosphere at the end of a colorful, joyful and animated show by Jean Dujardin then ended with these words from Emmanuel Macron, previously whistled by an ebullient audience but not very welcoming to 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 anthems, the real ones, a cappella, confirmed the Olympic form, sorry rugby, of the thousands of lucky people present in the enclosure of Saint -Denis. And it is not the Haka, widely applauded, which cools the energy of a melting public and almost entirely behind “his” XV of France.

Once the kick-off was given, the “Allez les Bleus” dripped from the stands and were immediately calmed by the first expeditious try from the men in black. The opportunity to see, and almost count, the rare, delighted support of the All Blacks.

Confirming its quality, as much as its state of form, but also, it must be recognized, its benevolent chauvinism, the “people of France” quickly found their voice to push Fabien Galthié’s men. The encouragement continued, 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 ““he who does not jump is not 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.