Geoffrey Branger / Photo credit: HANNAH PETERS / GETTY IMAGES ASIAPAC / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
While they will challenge the XV of France on Friday for the opening match of the Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France, the All Blacks arrived this Wednesday in Paris. The triple world champions traveled by train from Lyon and were welcomed by the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, in the capital.
The All Blacks have arrived safely. Two days before the summit match between France and New Zealand, opening the Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France, Aaron Smith’s teammates made the trip between Lyon and Paris by train.
It is 4:08 p.m. when a train from Lyon arrives on platform 23 of the Paris-Lyon station. On board, 33 New Zealand players ready to fight and accompanied by their staff. The Blacks were welcomed by the organizers of this World Cup, but also by the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra.
“I had to stop”
“This is an opportunity for us to welcome you here in Paris, in anticipation of this match which is going to be magnificent. It’s a legendary team and we want, with all due respect to them, to tell them how happy we are to welcome them to French soil. We want this to launch 51 exceptional days of competition to make the French people very happy,” said the minister. Fans and supporters are not allowed to attend this arrival, but Théophile could not help himself. He approached as close as possible to the wharf, behind the barriers, about twenty meters away, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the New Zealand colossi.
“When I drove past and saw their bus with the New Zealand flag on it, I had to stop. For rugby fans, the All Blacks can only be loved. It’s a nation that breathes rugby. So everyone loves them, but you’re behind the France team when you’re French,” he said. Like the All Blacks, 80% of travel will be by train or bus, as part of a partnership with the SNCF which aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the competition.