The Rugby World Cup’s opening fixture is just a day away, with preparations intensifying ahead of the tournament.
France and New Zealand have confirmed their line-ups for the curtain-raiser, with likely starting inside centres Jonathan Danty and Jordie Barrett both absent for the Paris clash due to injury.
The Stade de France encounter will kick off a busy opening weekend, with plenty of attention on events in Marseille with two crucial games being held in the city. England and Argentina meet at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday, before Scotland take on defending champions South Africa a day later in a vital Pool B meeting.
England named their opening World Cup team on Thursday, with Alex Mitchell – who wasn’t even selected in the initial World Cup squad – to start at scrum half, while most of the 20 nations competing in France are also set to hold press conferences as the tournament is just around the corner.
Follow all the latest updates from the Rugby World Cup below: