![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/damien-penaud-goes-from-villain-to-hero-to-ease-frances-opening-night-nerves/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_RUGBYU-WC-2023-MATCH1-FRA-NZL.jpg&description=France 27-13 New Zealand: Hosts hand All Blacks first ever World Cup pool defeat and deliver a statement of intent Damien Penaud went from villain to hero to give France a winning start to their World Cup and send the host nation into raptures. The son of former Saracens star Alain was at fault for both New Zealand tries and spilt one of his own over the Kiwi line. But with the All Blacks eyeing a shock victory he linked with Mathieu Jalibert for the score which turned the tide and started an almighty party. 'It was a massive game for our team today and I am proud to be French tonight,' said man of the match Greg Alldritt. 'But we are not champions now. We have to go step by step." The relief was tangible as for long periods it felt Les Bleus were being crushed by weight of expectation. Hosts, favourites, everyone's second team, they stepped into into a red-hot atmosphere and froze. The crowd had been whipped into a fervour by an opening ceremony which felt a lot like Danny Boyle's London 2012 epic with a Gallic twist. Dan Carter was allowed to bring out the trophy but it felt it would be the first and last time a Kiwi got his hands on the prize. Then the visitors kicked off, shredded Shaun Edwards' vaunted defence with their first run at it and Beauden Barrett chipped for Mark Telea to elude Penaud and score with 93 seconds on the clock. The French should have known better than to think the All Blacks, three-time world champions, would play the role of stooges. Their last meaningful World Cup tie had been a semi-final loss to England. Their last Test a record defeat by South Africa. You bet they were up for this. Only one side played with a joie de vivre and it was not the hosts and when Penaud again allowed Telea in at the start of the second half they were in a world of bother. On another night it would have haunted him. But not this one. The winger struck, releasing the pressure valve, the ABs lost Will Jordan to the bunker and France were away. In 10 World Cups){kind=link}
France 27-13 New Zealand: Hosts hand All Blacks first ever World Cup pool defeat and deliver a statement of intent
Damien Penaud went from villain to hero to give France a winning start to their World Cup and send the host nation into raptures.
The son of former Saracens star Alain was at fault for both New Zealand tries and spilt one of his own over the Kiwi line.
But with the All Blacks eyeing a shock victory he linked with Mathieu Jalibert for the score which turned the tide and started an almighty party.
“It was a massive game for our team today and I am proud to be French tonight,” said man of the match Greg Alldritt. “But we are not champions now. We have to go step by step.”