France vs New Zealand – Rugby World Cup LIVE: The hosts hoping to make winning start as

Here’s Nik Simon’s view of the ceremony.

‘Plenty of jeers for Emmanuel Macron as the French President takes the microphone to declare the World Cup open. Smoke clearing above the stadium from a spectacular fly over. There’s a buzz around this one!

‘Big blow for New Zealand as captain Sam Cane pulls out with an injury that was picked up in yesterday’s captain’s run. Meanwhile, it’s time for another singalong…’

Beaumont is trying to get spectators to be quiet. That is not going to happen.

In English, he speaks about the origination of rugby and how there’s no better to celebrrate its 200 year anniversary than in France.

He finishes by thanking those involved in the preparations for the tournament and bigging up the next seven weeks.

Macron then comes to the stand to a series of boos. Politics, I guess.

He’s said something about France being the focus of rugby for the next few weeks – a revolutionary statement – and bigs up Francr a bit (a lot).

He finishes by declaring the tournamnet open.

Oh, nope, a few of them are doing it.

Several fireworks around the outside of the stadium bring an end to proceedings.

Really enjoyed that, actually.

Sir Bill Beaumont and Emmanuel Macron will give the opening speeches.

The flags of all the competing counties are now on display as the actors and volunteers make their ways aroudn the outside of the arena to a popular tune.

I don’t know the some, but 60,000 French people do, and they’re having a darn good time.

Some planes reveal the colours of the French flag before one guy crowd surfs over some of the volunteers.

Oh, William Webb Ellis is here!

There’s a big of a fight breaking out over the hat and the man who pretty much invented rugby wants to ensure play is fair. ‘The players are artists’, he says.

I’ll be honest, I don’t totally understand what’s going on, but there’s been a great case of food, music and fashion so far.

It’s supposed to be a ‘poetic and colorful journey’ full of both ‘humour and self-deprecation’.

The fashionista’s hat has just been blown away. All part of the show, with several men trying to now reclaim the hat.

There are several people out on the field for the show, with French celebritiesi involved too.

This is what the organisers of the tournament said on the show: ‘These guests of honour, who come from the worlds of film, music, dance, urban culture, but also gastronomy and craftsmanship, will be at the heart of this Opening Ceremony. They will take the 80,000 fans at the Stade de France and millions of TV viewers on a poetic and colorful journey, through a story of romance and brotherhood.’

There’s a lot of dancing and everyone looks very happy, that’s for sure.

There’s a man – Jean Duhardin -using a baguette as a rugby ball to start.

He’s now cycling his baguettes to the field.

What a proud moment this must be for France and its people.

While we wait for the opening ceremony…

Another man we have out in France, Chris Foy, has arrived at the ground ahead of tonight’s opener.

The Stade de France is already bouncing and packed full of excited spectators and tonight promises to be a huge game for France, who of course chose to face the All Blacks tonight.

It’s almost time for the opening ceremony to get underway, a big moment for any host nation. It is in this case, of course, France.

The ceremony is to move away from traditional styles, going back in time to tell the story of French culture using a series of actors and volunteers.

Jean Duhardin is and actor and co-writer of this ceremony, and will lead it as the individuals embody France’s culture and art of living, I’m told.

Two of our people in France for the tournament, Nik Simon and Kevin Quigley, are going to be documenting their travels through the country during the tournament.

The first epidsode is out now, and can be checked out down below.

Preparation hasn’t been ideal for New Zealand, losing 35-7 in their final warm-up game against South Africa, but there are four chances to the XV that started that game.

Anton Lienert-Brown and Nepo Laulala are among those that come in. Scott Barrett starts despite his red card against the Springboks.

New Zealand: B Barrett, Jordan, Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Telea, Mo’unga, Smith, De Groot, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, S Barrett, Papalii, Cane, Savea.

Replacements: Taukei’aho, Tu’ungafasi, Newell, Vaa’i, Jacobson, Christie, Havili, Fainga’anuku.

Let’s have a run through of the teams for tonight, then. Hosts France first up.

Jonathan Danty and Cyril Baille are going to miss the next couple of weeks, while others including fly-half Romain Ntamack will miss the tournament altogether.

France: Ramos, Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Villiere, Jalibert, Dupont, Wardi, Marchand, Atonio, Woki, Flament, Cros, Ollivon, Alldritt.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Gros, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Boudehent, Lucu, Vincent, Jaminet.

On paper, we have the two favourites for the tournament going at it tonight. A potential dress rehearsal for the final.

In truth, there won’t be huge ramifications for whoever loses this evening.

With Namibia, Italy and Uruguay the other three sides in Pool A, both teams on show tonight will feel comfortable about their chances of making it through to the next stage, no matter what happens tonight.

But victory tonight will go a long way to claiming top spot and will be huge for the mental edge for the rest of the tournament.

And there’s history between the two sides. The 1987 and 2011 New Zealand victories, the 1999 and 2007 France comebacks… No two sides have faced each other more in World Cup competition.

It’s the battle of the juggernauts.

Good evening one and all and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of the Rugby World Cup opener between France and New Zealand.

After what feels like months of talk the competition has arrived and what a cracker we have to get us underway for the competition.

Kick-off is scheduled for 8:15, with the opening ceremony from 7.