Rugby World Cup 2023 is rapidly approaching, with less than a week until the opening game. Rugby.com.au examines every team's chances in France, looking at the hosts.
France has all the pressure on the world on them heading into a World Cup on home soil.
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It seems like the past half-decade has built to this moment as coach Fabian Galthie has built a world-class line-up capable of claiming their first World Cup.
They have one of the best players in the world in Antoine Dupont and a host of supporting stars to back him up.
The hosts will be looking to go one better than 2011 and loom as one of the favourites to win it all
Hosts
France had a perfect 2022, winning all 13 matches to take the top ranking at the end of the year.
This looked to continue into the 2023 Six Nations, only to go down to Ireland in Dublin.
They rebounded quickly to finish the tournament in second. Since then, they have traded wins with Scotland, with a second-string team almost upsetting a full-strength Scottish side.
Flanker Anthony Jelonch was named in host nation France's Rugby World Cup squad by head coach Fabien Galthie on Monday despite suffering from a serious knee injury.
Jelonch, 27, made the last of his 25 Test appearances in February when he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in the Six Nations victory over Scotland.
Les Bleus open the World Cup by facing three-time winners New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris on September 8.
Backs: Baptiste Couilloud, Antoine Dupont (c), Maxime Lucu, Antoine Hastoy, Matthieu Jalibert, Jonathan Danty, Gaël Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Arthur Vincent, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Gabin Villière, Melvyn Jaminet, Thomas Ramos
Forwards: Pierre Bourgarit, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Dorian Aldegheri, Uini Atonio, Cyril Baille, Sipili Falatea, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Reda Wardi, Thibaud Flament, Romain Taofifenua, Bastien Chalureau, Cameron Woki, Grégory Alldritt, Paul Boudehent, François Cros, Sekou Macalou, Charles Ollivon, Anthony Jelonch
Antoine Dupont is one of the best players in the world and one of the best scrum halves in the 21st century.
He is the face of French Rugby as the Toulon star has powered France to one of the juggernauts of World Rugby as their heroic captain.
Dupont is in red-hot form, named the Six Nations Player of the Tournament in March, his third time winning the award.
The 26-year-old can already establish himself as a legend if he can bring the World Cup trophy to France.
All of a sudden, Matthieu Jalibert has become one of the most under-pressure players at this year’s World Cup.
Jalibert is the likely favourite to replace Romain Ntameck after the flyhalf suffered a long-term injury during their win over Scotland.
The 24-year-old already has close to a 100 caps with club side Bordeaux, although he has found himself limited for minutes in the French national system.
This is the time for Jalibert to step out of the shadow and establish himself as a superstar. If France are to win the World Cup, they need him to have a strong performance alongside Dupont
Played: 52
Wins: 36
Loses: 15
Draw: 1
Best Finish: Second (1987, 1999, 2011)
2019: Quarter Finals
2015: Quarter Finals
2011: Second
2007: Fourth
2003: Fourth
Another game that explains itself.
The opener against New Zealand will be the perfect way to set the stage for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Their clash in 2021 was one of the matches of the year as the French lit up State de France.
A win is crucial, seeing them likely play the loser of South Africa v Ireland (pending a Scotland upset).
Sat Sep 9 (5:00 AM): France v New Zealand, Stade de France, Paris
Fri Sep 15 (5:00 AM): France v Uruguay, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Fri Sep 22 (5:00 AM): France v Namibia, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Sat Oct 7 (6:00 AM): France v Italy, OL Stadium, Lyon
