Dominant France announce shift in rugby world order after inflicting first World Cup pool loss on All Blacks

France, South Africa and Ireland all do the basics better than the All Blacks. The pecking order in world rugby has changed drastically and it’s a stark reality for the Kiwis to accept.

The loss is the first time the All Blacks have been defeated in the pool stages. Picture: Getty Images

IF there was any doubt about the decline of New Zealand rugby, it was washed away by a dominant French team that will rightly be considered World Cup favourites following their big pool win in the opening game.

The All Blacks became bereft of ideas as the French defence squeezed them into multiple errors and turnovers. Kiwi fans’ fears that this team was eroding in ability and ruthlessness materialised.

The signs have been there since they were bundled out in the 2019 World Cup semi-final by England, and have proceeded to lose a host of key games they otherwise used to win comfortably.

It will be an uphill climb for New Zealand now, given they’ll likely play the winner of Pool B in the quarter-final; set to be either Ireland or South Africa.

A fortnight after their biggest ever defeat, to the Springboks, the All Blacks now start a World Cup campaign with a resounding loss.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster looks on as his side made a horror start to the World Cup. Picture: Getty Images

France prevailed 27-13, having trailed 9-13 early in the second half.

This was the All Blacks’ first ever loss in the pool stages of a World Cup. They’d won their previous 31 pool games.

But at their fortress of Stade de France, Les Bleus kicked smartly to play the territory game.

The All Blacks showed some of their trademark attacking class, with winger Mark Telea scoring 90 seconds into the game and then again two minutes after the break.

But France was supremely composed.

They pressured the Kiwis’ scrum, kicked long and defended stoutly.

The piled on the points through the reliable boot of Thomas Ramos, while No.8 Gregory Alldritt carried his team forward with fierce runs through the middle.

While New Zealand attempted to play with flair, the boring version of rugby got the better of them, as is so often the case at World Cups.

France didn’t try to play out of their own half.

France has kicked off the Rugby World Cup in style. Picture: Getty Images

Halfback Antoine Dupont and five-eighth Matthieu Jalibert took every opportunity to boot the ball downfield and let the All Blacks trip themselves up.

While the Kiwis kicked reasonably well in the first half, things fell apart woefully in the second as the French began to increase the tempo of their ruck speed.

They built a 19-13 lead and the All Blacks became impatient, trying to attack without enough support to secure their own breakdown, or thoughtlessly kicking the ball to the French back three who had calm control of the match.

The All Blacks had started favourites for every World Cup except this one.

The French had an answer for everything thrown at them. Picture: Getty Images

It’s now clear to see that they are no longer the force they used to be.

It’s a stark reality for Kiwis to accept, but a definitive shift in the world game.

France, South Africa and Ireland are all better placed to take out this tournament.

They all do the basics better than New Zealand.

The All Blacks continue to make themselves vulnerable, caught between trying to remain the world’s best attacking team and adapting a territory-focused approach.

The best teams have learned to wait them out.

Originally published as Dominant France announce shift in rugby world order after inflicting first World Cup pool loss on All Blacks