'Huge showpiece': Host nation France take on NZ to kick off 'one of the most competitive World Cups' ever
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00:00 Right here in France the host nation for this year's Rugby World Cup 200 years since a sport was invented on the fields of rugby
00:06 in the UK
00:07 The William Webb Ellis trophy named in honor of the man who legend has it
00:10 Invented the game by picking the ball up during a football game the biggest event in the sports calendar every four years France
00:17 The host nation promises one of the biggest spectacles yet tickets sold out long ago viewing figures predicted to break records
00:23 20 teams competing and it kicks off with France against the Albraks tonight
00:28 Let's bring in will who Lee a former English rugby union player and now a rugby journalist and analyst will
00:33 It's a big one tonight. Some are saying possibly predicting the same two teams at the beginning in the final. I
00:39 Think it's a huge showpiece tonight
00:43 There's no doubt about it
00:44 And how good is it gonna be that those are gonna be in Paris against the All Blacks?
00:47 The All Blacks have a lot to prove after their disappointment a couple of weeks ago against the Springboks come into this tournament
00:54 But for France, it's all on the line in front of their home crowd
00:57 It's gonna be a hell of a contest and really excited to see it
01:01 So you'll have seen the players arriving at the train stations as we all have and different parts of the country and you're I'm sure
01:07 We've been analyzing who's in form getting sense of the inside chat
01:10 Where do you stand at the moment on the runners and riders? Who do you think is, you know, potentially going to dominate?
01:16 Well, I think obviously we talk about France being the host nation that they've got to be up there
01:22 As already said on my own home turf, but I think South Africa. It's hard to look past them the previous champions in
01:28 2019 they got a formidable size strength and depth across the board and they're coming into this into this competition in great form and
01:37 Island, of course as well our number one seed
01:40 So there's a lot on the line and and to be honest
01:42 I think it's gonna be probably one of the most competitive World Cups. We've seen it's hard to pick someone
01:46 Straight from the off. I do think tonight is a big game simply because those could be two teams
01:52 France and New Zealand might go on to win it
01:54 Of course, you haven't mentioned two teams that sometimes are up there with them one of them your home country England
02:00 How do you see their chances?
02:02 You caught me on that yeah, I think coming into the tournament they have had not the best run of form
02:09 There's been a lot of chat in the media about the expectation is on a ultimate low for England
02:14 Maybe that's a good thing and in all honesty, I see them getting better as the tournament goes on
02:19 It's a massive difficult game for them against the Argentinians who have been together for many years now
02:24 Seem jailed seem to be performing well as well. That's a big game on Saturday in Marseille for the English
02:29 I still see them coming out the group. I don't know whether they'll top pool pool D
02:33 But when it gets to the knockout games England can come alive in that
02:37 So I don't want to sort of put them to bed and say they're not going to be contenders
02:41 But the expectation is not on them at the moment for sure
02:45 He's coming home anytime soon
02:47 Another mention Eddie Jones
02:48 I saw him in a press conference in touch including talking to some of our fronts 24 team saying that all you journalists are just
02:53 So negative you just count us out Australians. He was really in a bad mood. Where do you see the Aussies in all of this? I
02:59 Think Australia what does lady Jones do such a good job to sort of stir the pot?
03:04 And I think that's what he does. He tries to take the pressure off his players
03:08 They've got a young experienced side Australia and then being in pool C with the likes of Wales and Fiji
03:14 They've got a difficult time in their group stages. I still think though you've got to give it to Eddie Jones
03:20 He knows how to perform a rugby World Cups. He'll get the best out of his players
03:24 Australia I think we'll still get through to the quarterfinals. I'd be interesting because they could come up against
03:29 England a little bit later on so Australia I would say less expectation, but Eddie Jones would get him get him going
03:35 Well, I might record this next bit and play it back in three weeks time
03:38 Will who's your prediction for the winner of the World Cup? I?
03:43 Think it's hard to look past South Africa. I'll be honest, although they're going to be in a very difficult group
03:47 You wonder whether they might lose some energy playing Ireland and Scotland before even get to the knockout stages
03:52 I'd love to see France though. I think for rugby for the tournament and probably for our whole sporting economics
03:58 This needs the host nation to do well
04:01 But yeah, you're gonna get an answer out of me. I'd say South Africa as it stands
04:05 We're lovely to talk to you will Huly a former professional rugby player and journalist
04:09 We'll get a special program tonight in the lead-up to the game here on France 24 join the rugby World Cup special 830
04:15 Central Eastern time that's 730 GMT