Axel May, edited by Romain Rouillard 7:53 p.m., October 07, 2022

The players of the French women's rugby team face South Africa next night at the opening of the World Cup which is taking place in New Zealand.

A competition that the Blue approach in a costume of favorites.

A status that will have to be confirmed from this first match in the mythical Eden Park.

You will have to go to bed very late or get up very early to attend the opening match of the Women's Rugby World Cup next night.

In the mythical Eden Park of Auckland in New Zealand, the France team faces South Africa at 3:15 am on the night of Friday to Saturday.

Les Bleues have great ambitions in this competition.

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A World Cup that will take place in the southern hemisphere for the first time in history.

The French women therefore have the honor of opening the ball, which is moreover in one of the most famous enclosures in the rugby world.

"It's one of the legendary stadiums. There's Twickenham, the Stade de France, Eden Park, all these stadiums we hear about and yes, it's going to be weird to get into them. It will be a first for me and for many. of girls I think", confides the right pillar Clara Joyeux who is still struggling to achieve. 

"Be present in the fight" 

At the opening of this World Cup, the Blues will face South Africans far from being as formidable as their male counterparts.

"We have to assume the status of favorites against the South Africans. Afterwards, it's a team that remains very aggressive, which offers a very physical game. So we will obviously have to be present in the fight", summarizes the third row Marjorie Mayans, one of the most experienced players of the Blues.

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In this group stage of the World Cup, it is England, the first nation in the world which should offer the most adversity to the XV of France.