A huge stadium, 80,000 plus, a huge occasion, and huge expectations.

The All Blacks will step onto Stade de France, the country’s nation stadium just north of Paris,  about seven tomorrow morning NZT for the first salvo, the opening group match, of the 2023 Rugby World Cup  against hosts France.

The All Blacks, who are TAB favourites for the title, have won the RWC three times – the most successful team in Rugby World Cup history.

“The place is buzzing,” says Ross Brown, a Tauranga man and Eves Real Estate agent, who’s in Paris on holiday.

“There are lots of New Zealand people, and Aussies, here to support their teams.”

Tauranga man Martin Burch sitting in a Paris café as he prepares for the start of the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Ross Brown/Vision Media.

Rugby World Cup fever is sweeping the city, ahead of tomorrow night's opener between the hosts and New Zealand. And the

L’Equipe – the French nationwide newspaper given over to sport, set the tone this week. It showed a picture from a previous encounter with New Zealand – in the foreground the All Blacks are kneeling during the haka, while in the back ground the stoney-faced French are standing shoulder to shoulder in defiance.

The caption reads : Our History : In two days (tomorrow)  the Blues will play against the All Blacks at the Stade de France in the opening match of the 10th World Rugby Cup. A confrontation that will revive indescribable memories against this legendary opponent.” Let the battle commence.

Ross says Paris is very, very excited.

“The streets are blocked off, there are big screens everywhere.”  And he admits to catching sight of a few All Blacks around their Pullman Hotel.

The All Blacks come in off the back of a bad year and a humiliating 35-7 loss to the defending champions South Africa at Twickenham just two weeks ago.  But they still go in as favourites.

France is still waiting for RWC glory – but they have home advantage and a team of style and size to go far. No doubt the team will be lifted by the lyrics of “La Marseillaise”, the French national anthem, which  tells of  “watering the fields with blood.”

Kick-off for the All Blacks v France tomorrow morning is 7.15.