Rugby World Cup 2023: score predictions and teams for Friday 8 September

It’s time for the curtain to come up on the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Friday night, as hosts France kick off with a mouthwatering clash against the New Zealand All Blacks.

The heavyweight pair light the touchpaper on the global showpiece, which will finish right where it starts with a Stade de France final in Paris on 28 October.

And it paves the way for a blockbuster opening weekend, with a further seven pool fixtures to come on Saturday and Sunday.

France vs New Zealand – Pool A

Can you imagine a better opening fixture for the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

The iconic Stade de France is the venue as hosts France fly straight into battle with New Zealand in their hotly-anticipated home tournament.

It’s been an impressive lead in to the competition for Les Bleus, too, with their vibrant side the dominant Northern Hemisphere force alongside Ireland since the last global showpiece in Japan four years ago.

But they haven’t been beyond the quarter-final stage since the 2011 edition, adding further heft to their heavy-duty opener.

For the All Blacks, the mission is to erase the memory of their semi-final defeat to England in 2019.

It’s been a rocky road since for the iconic rugby nation, who come into the opener under coach Ian Foster with the assured presence of captain Sam Cane.

The old is meshing with the new in Europe, with a bundle of World Cup debutants among the squad.

But they will miss the experience of Jordie Barrett through injury, albeit with borthers Beauden and Scott present and correct.

French coach Fabien Galthie will have to make do without star fly-half Romain Ntamack through injury, but still has Matthieu Jalibert and Antoine Dupont at his disposal in the halves.

Yoram Moefana gets the nod at inside centre following the withdrawal of Jonathan Danty.

France Starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos; 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Gabin Villiere; 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont; 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros; 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki; 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Reda Wardi.

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifienua, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Maxime Lucu, 22 Arthur Vincent, 23 Melvyn Jaminet.

New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’Unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Dalton Papalai’i, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Vaai’i, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 David Havili, 23 Leicester Fainga’anuku.

RWC 2023: Margin and winner predictions for 8-10 September

Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds or RugbyVision’s data model. Score margins use the methodology developed by Rugby Vision and Rugby4Cast.