All Blacks crowned kings of the world
23 Oct 2011
JON CARDINELLI, reporting from Eden Park, watched the All Blacks beat France 8-7 to secure their second World Cup title.
Four million New Zealanders have had to endure 24 long years in between World Cup titles. On Sunday 23 October, they had to endure a further 80 agonising minutes as their beloved All Blacks edged slowly and, at times tentatively, towards the elusive gold.
The energy of a nation was channeled in the New Zealand national anthem, and the All Blacks played their part with a spirited rendition of Kapa o Pango. France responded through Thierry Dusautoir’s passionate gesture during the Tricolores’ call-to-arms, and through the team’s decision to advance towards the hosts while they laid down the traditional challenge.
The message was clear: France would not be intimidated by the All Blacks, their media or the New Zealand people’s pre-match assertion that they had no place in this final. Their march on the All Blacks would signify a collective up-yours to all the non-believers, and their efforts in this match would underscore their passion and belief that they could indeed upset the world’s top-ranked team.
It was this fiery attitude and physicality that had the All Blacks rattled at stages. Tony Woodcock scored a simple try for the hosts when a smart lineout move opened up the French defence, but Piri Weepu failed to make the conversion. In fact, Weepu would miss all three of his attempts at goal and the All Blacks would miss out on eight points as a result. It was this lack of composure that so nearly cost the hosts the game.
The All Blacks were resolute on defence, but then so were the French. They matched the hosts at the collisions which limited the All Blacks’ attacking platform. Morgan Parra stopped Ma’a Nonu from breaching the gain line early in the first half, and paid the price for his bravery. He was able to return to the field for a brief spell but was later pulled when he failed to recover from what was a big knock.
The All Blacks would lose their own flyhalf before the first period was through. Aaron Cruden was caught between two French defenders in the 34th minute, and proceeded to hyper-extend his knee. Suddenly the All Blacks were without Cruden, their third-choice pivot, and looking to Stephen Donald, a player who wasn’t even in the country until a couple of weeks previously. If the All Blacks were going to pull this one off, the forgotten man of New Zealand rugby would have to steer them home.
Donald relieved Weepu of the goal-kicking duties and took his first opportunity early in the second half. But the 8-0 deficit did little to dampen the spirits of the French, who continued to clatter into the collisions and breakdowns with masochistic intensity.
They also persisted with their ball-in-hand tactics, and their searing counter-attacks stretched the All Blacks on numerous occasions. It was one such counter-punch that would provide the spark for a massive moment, which Dusautoir took expertly to help close the gap to 8-7.
It was during this time that the All Blacks must have been thinking about the failures of the World Cup teams of yesteryear. Weepu had shown a lack of composure in the first half through his inability to convert three very kickable opportunities, and as the French swelled with confidence, the All Blacks grew frantic.
It was a situation tailor-made for the French, and undoubtedly a worse-case scenario for the hosts.
But as plucky as the French were, they were just as erratic as in previous matches at this tournament. Credit should go to the All Blacks defence, but had France shown more composure and patience with ball-in-hand, they may have taken the lead and inspired some real panic in the New Zealand ranks. Had they converted their own goal-kicking chances, they would have assumed control as the clock wound down.
Dimitri Yachvili missed a penalty attempt early in the second stanza, and Trinh-Duc pushed a long attempt wide in the 65th minute. The replacement flyhalf also made a telling mistake when he overcooked a garryowen late in the game. It marked the end of long spell where France had pinned the hosts deep in their own territory.
It was during the remaining minutes that the All Blacks, spurred on by the thousands of desperate but patriotic Kiwis in the crowd, showed their composure. Through the determined efforts of their forwards and the collective discipline on defence, they were able to douse the French flame.
France swept from side to side for several minutes in hope of milking the penalty that would win them the game, but the All Blacks stood firm. They won the turnover, and attempted to play for time, and when referee Craig Joubert handed them a penalty, it signified the beginning of the end.
The All Blacks won the ensuing lineout and another penalty after mauling the French back, and at this point, Eden Park erupted in celebration. It will not be remembered as the most convincing performance, but it will be remembered as the day the All Blacks ended a 24-year drought and assumed the mantle of undisputed champions of the world.
1,158 Comments
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23 Oct 2011, 08:16 am
Common all you Saffa’s, there is still plenty of time before kick off to get the last of your choker digs in.
23 Oct 2011, 08:18 am
Black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 08:26 am
@Brads(Brads)-1:
You are over complicating it…. its much more simple
ALLEZ FRANCAIS!!!!!!!!!!!
VAMOS FRANCIA!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO FRANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Geddit?????
23 Oct 2011, 08:31 am
@Brads(Brads)-1:
And you’ve still got 3.5 hours to wonder whether you will.
23 Oct 2011, 08:32 am
@David(David)-4:
Who you picking / supporting?
23 Oct 2011, 08:38 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-5:
ABs, but that’s an intellectual, not an emotional choice. We’re so involved with you guys in the 3N and S15, it would almost be unpatriotic not too. Besides, us 3rd world countries need to stick together.
23 Oct 2011, 08:42 am
Couldn’t sleep last night, I’m first patron at the pub, it’s the quiet before the storm, I’m quietly nervous but I know the Blackness will emerge supreme!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 08:43 am
@Brads(Brads)-1:
Just remember who the reigning world champions still are.
Not New Zealand.
Not France.
Not just yet.
23 Oct 2011, 08:43 am
@David(David)-6:
Good man, farking nervous though been a long long time since we’ve been in a position to win the thing
23 Oct 2011, 08:44 am
Having said that, I’d like to see the All Blacks do it. And just keep the bloody thing in the Southern Hemisphere.
23 Oct 2011, 08:45 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-5:
Also, we english speakers need to occassionally remind the French why they’d be speaking German if it wasn’t for us.
23 Oct 2011, 08:45 am
To all the All Black supporters, may your team show why they deserve to win this tournament and be at their best. To the french supporters: mebbe, I dunno.
23 Oct 2011, 08:47 am
@David(David)-11:
Ha true, the Frogs will be fired up tonight though no walkover.
23 Oct 2011, 08:47 am
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-10:
and face 4 years of torment and anguish on this site from the likes of China, Pops, BP, Tackles and the rest of that motley crew???
No thanks….. go blue!
23 Oct 2011, 08:48 am
@Bod(bod)-14:
lol
23 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
@Bod(bod)-14:
Now that I think of it, its go blue three times today….
Frogs, City and Chelsea….
23 Oct 2011, 08:53 am
The All Blacks
A team whose time has come.
23 Oct 2011, 08:54 am
Come on AB’s!!! I cried in 2007 was in stunned silence, 2003 was awful Australia stole that game, 1999 was no picnic bloody Frenchmen, 1995 there was Mandela and suzie, 1991 damn convicts, 1987 glory!
It’s been a long long time, we’ve waited and we must be rewarded, I don’t have religion because I’ve got the All Blacks!!!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 08:54 am
@Bod(bod)-14:
If they do it, it’ll only be on loan to them for 4 years.
And I don’t think I could handle any more nervous breakdowns from all these kiwis for the next 4 years if they didn’t do it.
23 Oct 2011, 08:54 am
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-8: Sorry, maybe nobody told you but the Boks lost their defense of the WC by playing and losing to Oz. They are no longer WC’s I’m afraid, the title is vacant and that is why NZ and la grenouille are playing tonight.
All Blacks Machine to steam roll ze frogs 20+
23 Oct 2011, 08:55 am
Nerves on edge, but SURELY this final is everything that’s logical in the world of rugby versus France?!?!? Right? Surely. Come on you mighty Blacks!!!
23 Oct 2011, 08:55 am
Guys …relax..its only a game of rugby.
23 Oct 2011, 08:57 am
We already know who is the best, we just have to go through the motions to prove it….;-)
23 Oct 2011, 08:58 am
Mpundi has been watching Cup of Dreams again.
23 Oct 2011, 08:58 am
@Cane 73(Cane 73)-21: My heart rate is 67 resting…and that’s it now for how relaxed I am.
23 Oct 2011, 08:59 am
Off to watch the game, go Black do the business.
23 Oct 2011, 08:59 am
Captain: I wish it was just a game, I wish it meant nothing, I can’t do four more years, I’m a devout believer in the awesomeness of the Blackness today we just have to believe!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 09:01 am
Dawn: I’m nervous bear with me, please!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 09:03 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-27: I have no doubt what so ever….I have always believed that they are the best, even with the losses we hold the measuring stick year in and year out…that says it all. Relax, be calm, be one with the boys belief.
23 Oct 2011, 09:05 am
Everyone calm the feck down.
The stars are aligned.
23 Oct 2011, 09:08 am
@captain fantail(captain fantail)-20:
Just winding you guys up one last time as per Brads request in #1.
And I have AB’s by 25.
23 Oct 2011, 09:08 am
@Bod(bod)-14: I already have my argument lined up:
We still have a better World Cup winning percentage than any other team in world rugby.
Therefor, while the ABs are reigning World Champs, our superior record means we are the true World Champs.
Feel Free to use it.
23 Oct 2011, 09:11 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-7:calm down mfondini you’re going to transfer your nervousness to the players!
the all blacks supporters at our pub are very subdued & tense hehe especially the one named rossoneri
23 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-32:haha
23 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
Captain: I’m a bit of a wreck right now, I just us to get to Kapa o pango and hit the business straight away.
23 Oct 2011, 09:13 am
Surely today cannot be Crackerdy Crack Sunday.
Would love to see some french magic though.
23 Oct 2011, 09:14 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-35:
Calm down there boetie.
Breathe.
Don’t forget to breathe!!
23 Oct 2011, 09:16 am
Transie: we’ve not been here since 1995, we deserve to touch and kiss Bill. this is our cup.
23 Oct 2011, 09:18 am
the All Blacks surely by at least 20, but then again, its the French, by a country mile the most unpredictable side in world side in the world. Can there forwards create pressure on the AB’S, can the AB’S 9/10 axis work going backwards, will Parra at 10 by awesome or awful, and thats just the players, what about the ref, surely this world cup will be remembered by all, except the eventual winners, for the refereeing calls, in some big matches really poor. Surely the All Black supporters are feeling positive, but the wee little bit of doubt, if we blow this one we will never be able to look the rugby world in the eye for ages……….
23 Oct 2011, 09:18 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-35: It’s all sweet as bro!
23 Oct 2011, 09:20 am
OK boys..have to assume the position.
talk after.
23 Oct 2011, 09:21 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-38:richie will deliver you ungaxhalabi
23 Oct 2011, 09:22 am
after watching “cup of dreams” again this morning i really hope the all blacks win…the people in nz NEED this.
23 Oct 2011, 09:25 am
I am a stormer: I’m trying to calm down mate. It’s tough!
23 Oct 2011, 09:25 am
Got my French jersey yesterday (collector).. actually a good looking jersey. Maybe I should wear it
23 Oct 2011, 09:29 am
Finally!!!! The greatest Rugby Team on the planet get to win a tournament designed to destroy it. Lets hope that Joubert is equallly interested in becoming the best referee in the world by blowing a fair and competent game. Joubert stands at the edge of the abbys. He can show the world that Rugby’s design is not congruent with its spirit or he could sink into the cesspool of evil alchemy.
Rise All Blacks Rise!!! One final blow!!!
23 Oct 2011, 09:30 am
The moment of destiny and potential glory has arrived for the finalists. Only one team can win it and that team is the one who has the most points on the scoreboard by the time the referee blows the final whistle.
France can do it, only if they play a highly specifiic game for a long time, but they are unlikely to be permitted to do so by the most dominant team, certainly, in the last two years, the Mighty All Blacks.
By the end of this game we are likely to say that the world of rugby union has gone full circle and that N.Z. once again will be leading us into the next 24 year cycle as they did in 1987 when a racist S.A. was fittingly denied participation into the new competition because its majority, voteless millions demanded it to be so.
France will have to play, as they did in the first 9 mins. of the pool game, competitive rugby but for at least 65 mins. to be in with a shout of victory. But they cannot as they will be suffocated and pressured to finally capitulate. Where their Gallic minds are is the key question and who but they can truly know that answer?
At the very least we can hope for a tough, initially tight and exciting game leading to the crowning of a new, worthy and humble RW champion. I say that worthy champion will be the New Zealand All Blacks.
Many people in S.A., and especially in places like Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Kimberly, will be extremely happy with just such an outcome.
Only time now can unfold the truth.
23 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
Go blacks, get Bill he is yours for the next 4 years … there is no way in hell that those Frogs can upset your chokers, no way in hell. Do not let those filthy Frogs get their slimy fingers on Bill.
23 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
Situation is perfectly set up for France. If they lose – well, they weren’t expected to win. But if they win? What a bonus! Like winning the lottery.
People wondering why so many of us saffas are supporting France – it’s sometimes forgotten that a sizeable portion of the so-called ”white” and ”coloured” population have french heritage via the Huguenots.
23 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
Those non-french nazi’s who are looking to France to keep their flame alive… rot in hell you twats
The Silver Fern is greater than the Swastika!!!
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