All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick believes New Zealand will hit the ground running at a technologically groundbreaking 2023 Rugby World Cup.

“I think the opening match of World Cup 2023 is really important,” said the iconic 92-Test hooker at an event to unveil CapGemini as an official partner to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. “France, the host nation, playing the All Blacks is traditionally such a great fixture.

“Every All Black loves playing the French, they’re really difficult opposition for the All Blacks; I think I lost to France more times than any other team.

“In 2019 we beat South Africa [in the pool stage], and lost in the semi-finals, got on the wrong side of the draw … I’d like to think the All Blacks would win that game [against France].”

Fitzpatrick was excited about the potential technological innovations that CapGemini would bring to the 2023 tournament.

“One of the great things is that fans are going to experience real-time data results, in terms of what the players are doing, what the opposition is doing, and what the referee is thinking. Things like that, it’s just brilliant.

“Ultimately, for me as a fan, graphics and data are huge – I love watching the numbers.”