The 2023 Rugby World Cup opened with a predictably weird opening ceremony put on by host nation France, followed by some incredible booing for President Emmanuel Macron, and capped off by a complete butchering of the French national anthem, Les Marseillas.
The build up to the tournament has been full of the usual back and forth between rival supporters, but it seemed that the entire rugby community were united in their condemnation of the anthem.
For some bizarre reason the tournament organisers decided to include a children's choir to sing along, resulting in a version that was totally out of sync between the choir, solo singer, crowd, and team.
What is often regarded as the best anthem of all time was utterly awful on the very occasion you would expect it to be as rousing as ever.
The Butchering Of The French National Anthem
The infamous anthem. It gets worse every time….#FRAvNZL pic.twitter.com/bwviZNcHY5
— Colmán Stanley (@ColmnStanley1) September 8, 2023
What on earth was that version of Les Marseillas??
Was there backing singers or was that just the broadcast?
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 8, 2023
WTF have they just done to the French anthem. That is a travesty
— Gavin Cooney (@gcooney93) September 8, 2023
So the opening ceremony was bizarre, the French National anthem a complete shambles and then the All Blacks have the perfect start! Shaun Edwards will be losing his nut!
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) September 8, 2023
What is this French anthem? Is it a freestyle version where everyone sings what they want? Wtf is happening here #SSRUGBY
— Not Peter de Villiers (@Coachdivvy) September 8, 2023
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