Let the party begin: Joy for the All Blacks at the final whistle
Related links
Teams
Also see
It was not as convincing as many fans expected but the All Blacks held on to claim an 8-7 success over France and with it their second World Cup crown.
Les Bleus were a completely different side to the one that had fallen to the 2011 hosts and also Tonga during the Pool stages. And they pushed the Kiwis right up until the death in a highly-charged 80 minutes at Eden Park on Sunday.
But New Zealand managed to beat their rivals who had caused them such bother in the past, ultimately banishing their 1999 and 2007 ghosts.
The score has a certain eeriness to it too - '87?
Auckland was alive with All Blacks supporters all afternoon as the whole population hoped for an end to their 20 years of Webb Ellis hurt. Tickets were not sold out however as only hours before kick-off, sales were still going: cheapest for $401 ranging up to £1280 for the most expensive.
France meanwhile had banked on proving that their 6/1 bookmaker price for a game of such magnitude was way off the mark, and they duly racked up the phases inside opposition territory. This followed les Bleus not backing down from the Kapa O Pango - in fact they walked into it.
A marker was well-and-truly thrown down by France.
It was always going to be key for France to deprive New Zealand of the same start they enjoyed against the Wallabies and that was exactly what they managed, keeping the All Blacks away from the red zone despite an early penalty miss from fan favourite Piri Weepu.
Their starvation attempt did not last as back came the All Blacks following a solid touch-finder from scrum-half Weepu. And from that ensuing line-out, superb off-the-top ball back inside to Tony Woodcock saw the prop ghost through unopposed. Cue a big sigh of relief.
Suddenly the momentum had swung while Morgan Parra continued to struggle, which eventually led to Francois Trinh-Duc replacing him. France were not going to be alone in losing their fly-half though as six minutes before the break, Aaron Cruden exited injured.
Breakdown supremacy was also always going to be vital and as is their wont in 2011, the All Blacks soon dominated matters, which should have resulted in another three from Weepu. However, the former Hurricane looked like he was kicking in one with another missed shot.
Despite those eight points from the tee having gone begging, there was little worrying New Zealand heading past the half-hour mark but as this nation had become accustomed to, France aren't to be taken lightly, particularly with only a five-point lead taken into the sheds.
Marc Lievremont was clearly encouraged from what he had seen from his charges and sent the French back out from the break with the greater intent, but this time it was they who counted the cost of a penalty miss. Dimitri Yachvili sending the ball just wide of the uprights.
It looked like New Zealand had made the visitors pay for that failed attempt when first-half replacement Stephen Donald slotted from bang in front, but as the French have a habit of doing in this tournament, they soon came back to haunt their hosts. Thierry Dusautoir it was who crossed as the All Blacks fell asleep in defence following Donald's effort. The visiting captain burrowed his way over close to the post to make it an easy conversion for Trinh-Duc.
Suddenly the nerves of yesteryear were weighing on the hearts and shoulders of the 61,000 supporters at Eden Park as play nervously pitched itself on the halfway line coming up to the hour mark. That aforementioned 6/1 bookies price tag had become a great amount shorter.
France had the chance to snatch an unlikely World Cup crown on 63 minutes when Trinh-Duc lined up a 45-metre penalty but it proved unsuccessful as New Zealand weathered both the French storm and the pressure they'd put on themselves after almost a quarter-of-a-century without the Webb Ellis trophy.
The game was on a knife edge right until the final moments but the hosts just managed to hold on and end 24 years of waiting for their second RWC, McCaw left holding the prize.
Man of the match: Yet another towering performance from Imanol Harinordoquy has gone into the locker of the Biarritz stalwart. The number eight proved once again he is a must in this French line-up as he foiled several home line-outs, ran well in open play and also had a good night in close quarters. However, along with Thierry Dusautoir, Richie McCaw put in captain's performance on Sunday and was colossal at the breakdown. Big game effort.
Moment of the match: It had looked like France were going to upset New Zealand in 1999, 2007 and now 2011 when Francois Trinh-Duc lined up a long-range penalty attempt with only a quarter of the game remaining. The replacement fly-half did not get hold of his attempt though and that proved the difference between the two when it came down to it.
Villain of the match: A game played in good spirits. Nothing to report.
The scorers:
For France:
Try: Dusautoir
Con: Trinh-Duc
For New Zealand:
Tries: Woodcock
Pen: Donald
France: 15 Maxime Médard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Morgan Parra, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascal Papé, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Fabien Barcella, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 20 Jean-Marc Doussain, 21 François Trinh-Duc, 22 Damien Traille.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
Referee: Craig Joubert
By Adam Kyriacou at Eden Park
Comments
xavierG says...
"Remember that Craig Joubert was under enormous pressure....33 years old and reffing the most important game of his life...the sort of responsibility that he would have only dreamed about till a few years ago."
and under that pressure he crumbled and failed.
Posted 22:50 02nd May 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
I watched the game in an Irish pub about a mile away from Edin Park surrounded by All Blacks fans. Here I am, from England, down in NZ for the whole 2 months of the RWC and loving it! I get talking to some really welcoming Aucklanders who invite me to sit at their table and share thier chups and they proceeded to live every decision and action as if their lives depended on the outcome. Then the all blacks won and the place went ballistic! 2011 should have gone down as a terrible year for New Zealand, with The earth quake, oil spill, the north island even lost their gas supply a day or so later after the cup final due to a land slide in taranki, but it didn't matter. They had won the world cup! Sorry France but I'm really pleased New Zealand pulled it off. Anyone who's felt for NZ during 2011, must feel the same way as me, they pulled it off. And lets face it when the all blacks hit top gear they are a real pleasure to watch, easily the best team in the world. Well done and thanks for helping make the NZ RWC the best holiday of my life! Karma can work both ways and they deserved a bit of good Karma!
Posted 10:43 31st January 2012
Rosbif says...
@Justice_4_all. many thks. understand what you're saying. So many small margins. It's why I find myself preferring to watch games at home on my own, rather than surrounded by experts down the pub. CJ still my favourite ref!!
I remember years back liking the way Andre Watson used to ref the game. Seemed to have really good empathy with the game and players. I felt the same way about Derek Bevan too. Then Watson had to deal with so much rubbish after the 2003 final from Eng supporters. And Bevan was pilloried for the semi at Kings Park in 95 in the swimming pool (remember that day - I was there!!!). You've got to ask: if not those guys reffing, then who? They were the best of the best. I think CJ is going to be up there too. Best of the best. Certainly better than the guys down the pub....
Still a lingering feeling that ABs get away with stuff. Hard to really pin-point why. Hard to know if it's just "the world vs the ABs" type of argument. There's a youtube clip of a recent SA vs AB game recently produced by an Aussie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdr-W775hk4
I only include it for your amusement. It's just one bloke trying to highlight things. But it taps into an emotion shared by many fans who have watched their team lose to the ABs, methinks. And wondered why, how, when, not again etc etc.
Peace. And thks again for your time and wisdom :)
Posted 10:34 29th October 2011
Rosbif says...
justice_4_all says. makes sense. I get the distinction. You can't be involved in a tackle, then pretend to be arriving player. fine margins indeed, but makes sense. also explains the butterfly movement you mention.
Not wishing to besmirch Joubert, but applying this logic, pls take a look at 2 decisions. Again, my interest is how the same law appears to be applied slightly differently.
3.26mins 1ST PEN NZ. Palisson holding on after tackle after long period of possession for France. McCaw appears to make the tackle. Doesn't seem to roll away (only in my opinion, remember I'm watching my children here). Woodcock arriving player with rights, but has his knees on ground. Also nowhere near the ball, since other players in the way. Joubert seems a little unsighted to me. (In the semi vs Aus, Joubert pinged Pocock early on for contesting ball as arriving player because Pocock had "one knee on the ground"). Hence this looks harsh to me against Fra.
9.43mins. The infamous moment where Parra is ko'ed. Nonu charge off lineout in centre field. Parra tackles and seems to release Nonu (Parra is getting up as McCaw knees him). Dusautoir not involved in the tackle, but is first to arrive, on his feet and hands on the ball. McCaw throws himself (off feet? hard to tell, but certainly low to the ground) from the side (hence why he doesn't see poor Parra). All of this happens at speed, of course! Applying previous logic, I thought this could have been pen to France? Again, just my view.
I hope you don't mind. I'm deliberately looking at stuff early in the game. Smart players learn during the 80 mins. So early calls are significant. Also, getting ahead early in a game (territory, momentum, points) allows a team to relax and play better footie. It's like watching the Oxford Cambridge boat race. Crew that gets clear water first usually wins!
Posted 11:27 28th October 2011
Carpelone says...
@ justice_4_all
Thanks for your effort, mate.
Still thinking Joubert had a stinker, to be benevolent.
Posted 17:28 27th October 2011
Rosbif says...
@ justice_4_all. Love the fact you are still on this page (literally and metaphorically). and you're working for us!! answering questions. with objectivity and decorum. the storm has passed. and you're calmly making VERY GOOD points.
As an aside, I'm amazed how many of us are prisoners of our own emotions and short-term memory. I looked at the tape again last night. What a game! What a contest!
I'm now thinking Joubert did a pretty good job. He was careful not to blow too much, especially in the end-game. Players from both sides figured that out during the course of the second half. Hence the titanic struggle for the ball at every ruck in those last 15 mins.
Just a shame some-one had to lose this game. And then further shame that we've seen all the Fra whinging and NZ gloating. Two sides of the same coin methinks. Not pretty.
Posted 12:21 27th October 2011
Storm says...
@Stellenbosched - your calm rational comments seem out of place amongst the toxic dogma posted here.
You are one of the few that understand that the game itself is just one part of the rugby fellowship. Bleddy Lekke!!
Posted 13:09 26th October 2011
Rosbif says...
@ justice_4_all.
love your comment about watching your kids...you're so right!!
thks for the quickie explanation re offside, i.e. my point no.3 I agree, the key is whether the player retreats or interferes with play. So these are all OK probably. Certainly understandable/justifiable from Joubert's perspective.
I guess the same applies to my point no.1, i.e. is the injured player interfering with play? And is there a natural break in play that allows Time Off? It reminds me of another incident. In the first half, Joubert penalises (short arm) Fra when Poux is slow to arrive at a line-out. He says to Dusautoir, "I can't hold up play for guys who are 20m away" NZ take a scrum. This is the rule that allows Time Off for McCaw on 75 mins after the infamous Rougerie eye gouge? McCaw is 2m away from play. So he gets 5mins rest to prepare for keep-ball end-game. That's the ruling. Just seems one-sided. i.e. he could have waited for Poux anyway, and not "rigorously" applied the law.
That's the real rub. Rigorous application of laws vs Fra. Slightly more liberal application vs NZ. Matches turn on small margins!!
Posted 11:24 26th October 2011
Rosbif says...
@sandal and others. Ooops. Pretty much everything I've said on these blogs needs to be UPDATED and QUALIFIED for the blatant and horrific actions of Rougerie.
Apologies to everyone. I feel ashamed of having tried to defend his actions BEFORE SEEING WHAT HE DID.
Shame on you Rougerie.
What we French had prior to this was a gallant defeat with pride in the face of NZ hostility. The narrative has changed.
Now we have a full-blown enquiry. Wait for the politicians and PM and President to get involved. This is going nuclear!!
What a shambles....
Posted 10:42 26th October 2011
crunchfit says...
@ben7
Damn. That's terrible. I can't believe those decisions. Up until now I thought NZ deserved to win that match, but not now. I'm not sure that I can accept that those calls were accidentally one sided either. The Jerome Kaino incident just cannot have been accidental. I really, really, feel sorry for France, bar that scumbag Rougerie.
Posted 10:37 26th October 2011
carpelone says...
@ justice_4_all and ramage
You are the referees of this PR communities.
Can you please comment on Ben7's clip?
As said elsewhere, it is time to finish this off, and I hope you Kiwis celebrate your victory and enjoy it (overall deserved, just admit that you were a bit lucky at the end).
At the end, it is just sport.
Posted 08:29 26th October 2011
sandal says...
@ Rosbif.
I hear what you're saying.
Posted 06:28 26th October 2011
ben7 says...
watch nz cheating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XBqetaCfgo&feature=youtu.be
Posted 00:05 26th October 2011
Ripzy007 says...
@ ABs - Haters don't really hate you; they hate themselves cause you're a reflection of what they wish to be....Good Luck BVD and Trinuts for the next Four Years....Dream some more...
Posted 23:05 25th October 2011
carpelone says...
@ rosbif
No mate. You are bloody right. If they told us in advance, we would have sent our junior team, in order to get some experience.
Posted 21:27 25th October 2011
Carpelone says...
@ sandal
The knee Read got on his head was not accidental too, it was a punishment to Kieran to fall on the wrong side of the ruck.
But it is over anyway.
Posted 18:50 25th October 2011
Rosbif says...
@ sandal. you know what?... you're right! there's so much rubbish flying around from people that don't seem to have a clue, you end up turning the volume up too loud. But then, as you say, you lose people. You lose credibility.
My last post was meant as a kind of narrative. To scratch the surface of what emotions are like when you're playing the game. I was trying to put people in the shoes of the French players on the filed. Imagining how they felt. Hence my use of present continuos, to make it feel like action.
I agree. Of course backs are just as dirty as fwds. Often more so, cos they don't have to "live at the office" as we forwards do. A history of being clean is also a tawdry line. Sorry. It's me using weak journo speak.
That said, I do still think there is a difference btw foul play that is pre-meditated as an act of intimidation, early in a game, to set out your stall. Or to "target" an injured opponent, or one who is critical to the opposition game plan. Compared to foul play borne out of frustration at the end of a game, when you have lost patience with a player, or a ref. You're knackered. And realise you've lost. You're upset. And just kick out at anyone. Half-heartedly. Off the ball. With no venom. That stuff happens a lot. Doesn't mean you're a dirty player. Means you've lost your cool. Not quite the same.
Or am I way off the mark?
I'm starting to have doubts....
Posted 16:33 25th October 2011
sandal says...
@ Trinats
You say: "" has McCaw been cited for knocking out Parra with the swinging arm and knee? or was that just good tactics ? ""
It was clearly accidental. Just as the knee that Kieran Read took to the head was accidental.
Rugby is a physical game played at pace. Accidents happen.
Sometimes thuggery occurs, masked as just such an accident. But neither Parra's nor Read's blows were deliberate.
Again you are mischief making. But then all your arrogant predictions this world cup came wrong, didn't they, so what else are you going to do? Tell us how NZ will choke at the next world cup and Australia will win? Go on, start now. Say it early and say it often.
Posted 15:01 25th October 2011
sandal says...
@ Rosbif
You say: "" the refs giving you nothing. he's given you nothing all game. ""
I disagree. The ref penalised both teams throughout the game. Usually I enjoy and respect your comments, Rosbif, but here I think you're resorting to hyperbole. Are French fans trying to create a myth about the reffing in this game?
You also say: "" rougerie is one of the cleanest players around. for starters, he's a back. what does he know about the dark arts? ""
You're saying a player is blameless because he is a back? Really? Now you're losing credibility. And being "one of the cleanest players around" does not erase your actions. I've seen that description given to many doers of misdeeds.
Towards the end of the game a Frenchman stamped on McCaw when he was nowhere near the ball (which was coming out the All Blacks side), so it certainly wasn't a response to the provocation of unfair play going unpunished. It was just foul play.
Posted 14:50 25th October 2011
sandal says...
Sorry to spoil the cliche, PR, but New Zealand's "Web Ellis hurt" began 20 years ago, not 24. New Zealand won the trophy in 1987 and held it till 1991. There is no reason why these four years were years of "Webb Ellis hurt" for Kiwis.
If there has been any "hurt", it began only in 1991, when NZ lost the trophy. That is 20 years ago.
Why do rugby journalists -- ALL rugby journalists, it seems, for PR is by no means alone in this error -- lose their way when counting to 20?
Posted 13:37 25th October 2011