France launch World Cup with Pumas opener

France launched the 2007 Rugby World Cup tonight amid huge expectancy levels in coach Bernard Laporte’s final assignment before he takes up a French ministerial post.

France launched the 2007 Rugby World Cup tonight amid huge expectancy levels in coach Bernard Laporte’s final assignment before he takes up a French ministerial post.

Buoyed by World Cup warm-up victories over England (twice) and Wales, the French paraded a team packed with experience at a sold-out Stade de France.

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