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, 13:47 pm
@cane(cane)-590:
Beautiful and congratulations for a super RWC and a great even though tough and tense final. I enjoyed it immensely.
23 Oct 2011, 13:47 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-584:
TV1 (a nztv chanel) had a camera inside the Wainuiomata Rugby Club Rooms,
You should have been feeling well at home.
8)
23 Oct 2011, 13:47 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-594:
I know; I saw it afterwards
Simply replace ‘you’ with ‘them’
Sorry mate; think you’re a Sharks supporter if memory serves me right
23 Oct 2011, 13:48 pm
@T.Roal(T.Roal)-595: it’s now the 4 nations,we’ll see the how the argies go.Better than the faulklands hopefully.
23 Oct 2011, 13:48 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-589:
I am at home having few beers at with me daughter.
23 Oct 2011, 13:48 pm
Imanol Harinordoquy
immensee!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 13:49 pm
@ET.(ET.)-601:
Rugby won today and the world of rugby union is finally back in superb balance. Now dominate and keep it there.
23 Oct 2011, 13:49 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-599:
I’m not interested in the tripe you write, the Ab’s are world champions and you have 4 years to reflect on that.
23 Oct 2011, 13:49 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-605:
Few beers at home that is.
23 Oct 2011, 13:49 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-605:
nice mate enjoy!
23 Oct 2011, 13:50 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-599: you lost to cooper,ABs smashed them.Bugger off.
23 Oct 2011, 13:51 pm
@cane(cane)-602:
Real??
lol the old club rooms, boy i have been very messy there over the years
23 Oct 2011, 13:52 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-599:
It pains me to say.
You are pathetic. You have lost and you are unable to accept your countrys incompetence. You have lost, and you will likely never win again. I’m sorry. Your country is absolutely piss poor. You grovel when you lose and you are ingrateful in defeat.
I’m sorry that your country is no good at this egg shaped ball game.
You suck
T.roal
x
23 Oct 2011, 13:52 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-610:
Some how the beers seemed to taste alot better after the game.
If i start not making sense soon, you understand why.
23 Oct 2011, 13:53 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-600:
Your pass was not ruled forward by a South African ref.
Remember we went on to win that tournament when you choked, much like you choked today.
I thought Dusatoir’s try was to use and Australianism ‘sensational’ ; he had such composure and dominated McCaw and Kaino on their beloved Eden Park
Remember if you are fair, the world will acknowledge you as such.
Mitch and Plum are here in my country and I have acknowledged them as the best coaches. They are kiwis. So there goes the argument that some of us are against the kiwis.
Watch how Ted will become Sir Ted.
23 Oct 2011, 13:54 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-582:
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-582:
“Nonu was one dimensional – even kicked a rugby ball for the first time in his life”
… and a great kick it was, too. More generally, in the game I watched, Nonu played very well; reckon Henry deserves credit for backing him over SBW.
Anyway, as the great Naas used to say: cowboys don’t cry. I guess you’re a different breed of cowboy.
23 Oct 2011, 13:54 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-614:
Yip they sure do, its been worth the wait.
23 Oct 2011, 13:55 pm
@dermie(dermie)-567:
It was close Dermie. Close.
But I was never one to right off the Froggies.
*****……………………………………………they had me on the edge of my couch……………………………………………….I was pumping down beers like they were tranquilisers.
8)
23 Oct 2011, 13:55 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-608:
Why are you here on a SA blog?
You are unaware of your desire for us to acknowledge that you are the best.
23 Oct 2011, 13:56 pm
@dermie(dermie)-611:
The truth hurts; that’s for sure.
23 Oct 2011, 13:57 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-615: scored of an ABs error,didn’t even look like scoring a try of their own attacking play.
23 Oct 2011, 13:57 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-615:
So the forward pass in 2007 was ok cos a South African didnt call it?
YOur TMO called a forward pass in this years 3 nations, lost us the cup really, do you have a problem with that? Or was that fair as well?
Oh yeah, and by the way we choked today for sure. lol
23 Oct 2011, 13:57 pm
Peter mkahata: enkosi mfodini, ndiyo sela ngoku!!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 13:57 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-619:
because it has a nice international flavour, haven’t you got some reflecting to do?
23 Oct 2011, 13:57 pm
@T.Roal(T.Roal)-613:
Mate you dont even understand rugby union.
It will be nearly impossible to explain the virtue of fairness to you.
23 Oct 2011, 13:59 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-612:
Real…………………………………..for sure.
They had several members of Peri’s extended family on as well.
23 Oct 2011, 13:59 pm
@Thucydides(Thucydides)-616:
Nonu felt the pressure big time; Rougerie made him look ordinary today – that’s for sure.
23 Oct 2011, 14:00 pm
@cane(cane)-618: me too,Doesn’t help when your a cowan fan.
23 Oct 2011, 14:00 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-619:
lol
We dont care what you think Sheriff.
I dont think one Kiwi here expects any congratulations from you.
Let us live in the moment of being the best team in the world.
23 Oct 2011, 14:02 pm
@cane(cane)-626:
Great stuff, shame Piri didnt play like we know he could tonight.
23 Oct 2011, 14:02 pm
@T.Roal(T.Roal)-613: wanker.
23 Oct 2011, 14:02 pm
@dermie(dermie)-621:
Their game plan was to feed off AB mistakes and that they did.
When he got up I said this man has the face of a winner; he struck a deep psychological blow today and they will fear him for the rest of their lives.
The man epitomises ‘compsure’
23 Oct 2011, 14:02 pm
NZ ………………………..1st.
France……………………1st =.
SA…………………………..8th =.
Sorry Okes, coulded help myself.
(thanks Popps).
8)
23 Oct 2011, 14:04 pm
Just so happy. Don’t care that we won be one point. Congrats to france for a great game. France did themselves proud. Tonight we celebrate as a happy united country.
23 Oct 2011, 14:05 pm
@dermie(dermie)-628:
Jimmy looked like he was enjoying himself post match.
8)
23 Oct 2011, 14:06 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-625:
Perhaps you’re correct.
Your joke of midfield crash ball deserved to win the world cup.
Springboks. Schalk Burger midfield crash and eye gouge, formula to win.
So much field possession and territory how could you lose? Impossible I say.
T.Roal
x
23 Oct 2011, 14:06 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-629:
The truth is: you do.
Reflect on that.
The RWC is full of ironies – in the end I’m happy for the kiwis – in the big scheme of things eg the economy, the hard work of hosting, the 24 year burden and of course the natural disasters there; I’m truly happy for the people.
Im happy for other like Mitch and no many others who failed and could not help but shed a tear that finally its gone their way.
But it does not mean that we need to turn a blind eye to what was clear manipulation; if we do that we would be denying our own values.
23 Oct 2011, 14:08 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-627:
The only thing that’s for sure is that you are an exceptionally bad loser. Whenever you get an urge to complain about the ref, the venue, or whatever, I suggest that you looks at the scoreboard.
23 Oct 2011, 14:11 pm
Sheriff
a SA talking principles?
what a sore loser you are.
23 Oct 2011, 14:14 pm
Helen: Helen where are you now!!!!! Where’s the choke my little one, come out and say something Helen speak dammit!!!!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 14:14 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-637:
Ummm Sherrif, no i dont expect a congratulations from you at all.
Get over yourself
23 Oct 2011, 14:14 pm
@cane(cane)-635: great team man,what was ellis doing there?
23 Oct 2011, 14:16 pm
Wooden spoon: where are you now? Screaming and shouting, where’s your bodice, show me something now!
23 Oct 2011, 14:17 pm
Congrats to AB’s and all the supporters on here, you guys deserved to be crowned champions. Sheriff you really are being a sore loser
23 Oct 2011, 14:17 pm
the rightful order of world rugby has been restored.
other less noble teams have been vanquished
the gallant French leave with respect.
SA left two weeks agp. they should be well rested by now.
23 Oct 2011, 14:18 pm
Rossoneri: you understand what we’ve done, you can feel it, this is just massive, where’s Helen that charlatan?
23 Oct 2011, 14:18 pm
@dermie(dermie)-642:
All 3, 1/2 backs were up to the call dernie.
Just like all 4, First 5′s were.
8)
23 Oct 2011, 14:18 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-637: no sympathy for the ABs in 07,just alot of don’t be whingers.
23 Oct 2011, 14:21 pm
@Thucydides(Thucydides)-638:
Mate, South Africans won today.
Craig Joubert represented us there today.
Superb performance and a benchmark for the dishonest refs to aspire.
In the end, South Africans are the real winners today (your tonight)
23 Oct 2011, 14:22 pm
@cane(cane)-647: c’mon jimmy’s errors are blown by the commentators.piri’s are ignored,now what are they going to say,he had a horror.
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