The element that Galthie admits caught France off-guard vs NZ

On paper, France may have got their Rugby World Cup off to an impressive start with a commanding 27-13 win against New Zealand, but head coach Fabien Galthie didn’t duck the fact that it was a jittery performance from the hosts.

Indeed it was an edgy affair in the French capital, with France failing to grab the game by the scruff of the neck until roughly halfway through the second forty. France looked very much the proverbial rabbits in the headlights as they struggled to gain a foothold in the match against a fast-starting All Blacks side, who took just 90 seconds to cross the whitewash care of winger Mark Telea.

“It was important to get off to a good start after all the work we’ve put in preparing for this match. We were under a lot of pressure in the first half, and we found it hard to break free,” Galthie told reporters after the game.

“They scored very early, rather easily. Then we lost Julien Marchand. We started the match in the worst possible way – but that’s all part of the game.”

“We got a bit caught up in the atmosphere. But we went into the dressing room in front, thanks to our discipline.

“Then in the second half, our finishers enabled us to regain control of the match, but not immediately. Again, they scored from our mistakes when we could have done better.

“But we won the arm-wrestle. That enabled us to keep in touch with New Zealand, particularly in our weaker moments, and then meant we regained control of the second half, and also meant Thomas Ramos could keep us in touch with his kicking.”

“At the end of the day, it’s a heavy score in our favour.”

The tense atmosphere both on the pitch and in the stands – which was a mile away from the usually raucous home support enjoyed by Les Bleus – caught Galthie off-guard.

“We didn’t expect this atmosphere. It was very tense, even in the stands. We’re not used to this kind of atmosphere.”

Galthie also gave the New Zealanders a sly dig of sorts, suggesting that the visitors’ much-lauded cap tally didn’t translate on the pitch.

“We didn’t get the impression that this was a team with more experience in terms of caps, age, whereas we’re still young.”

General manager Raphael Ibanez praised the side’s team spirit after they bounced back against New Zealand side that got out of the blocks fast.

“In a World Cup game, especially on the opening day, I think what matters most is team spirit. That’s what we have seen today. Team spirit, togetherness that’s something we rely on when we have to front up when we have tough times. That was the case today against a beautiful and fabulous All Blacks team but team spirit was the key tonight.”