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, 14:23 pm
@Test(Test)-644:
Tes Tos Terone.
Well said.
But there is more to the Lawman than a post here and there.
23 Oct 2011, 14:25 pm
As an england born South African it’s unfortunate the All Blacks won. Though it fills me with joy the “Springboks” didn’t win. They are just international pretenders. They blame their imcompetence on refs, decision making, game plans etc when they are lucky to be in the world cup in the first place. A real mind f*ck how most lowly 3rd world southern africans can’t see that. It makes me sad that their education is so low.
T.Roal
x
23 Oct 2011, 14:27 pm
I’ve waited a long time, we’ve waited a long long, the bill is ours!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 14:28 pm
To the All Blacks and their proud fans, well done, you hung on in the end. Great game. Great team. Great victory. Enjoy! I hope it does not take another 24 years. To my beloved Boks, the future is bright!
23 Oct 2011, 14:28 pm
poppa69, corporal punishment, hurricane, cane, stew, captain fantail, black panther, nils, brads, waka Nathan, namblack, mpundulu, rossoneri, tackler, chiefs fan, stodders, marvinb, kiakaha nz, we are celebrating your triumph with you guys, good things come to those who wait enjoy the victory. To Richie, bedecked and bejewelled in black and gold you will go down as one the best if not the best. If anyone ask you who you are, just look em inthe face and say, I’m the star up in the sky, I’m the mountain peak up high – yeah I’ve made, I’m the worlds greatest. In the ring of life I will reign love and when all is darkest I will shine a light. Special mention to the French for providing a real contest and lastly ignore maximus and sheriff, bitter and twisted souls underplaying your victory. They don’t represent the views of true Bok n Saffas
23 Oct 2011, 14:30 pm
@Sheriff(Lawman)-649:
” performance and a benchmark for the dishonest refs to aspire.”
Sheriff, I know you better than this.
And what is more,
You know you are better than this.
5 or 6 (who knows how long) years of Keo.co.za tell me you are letting your standards slip!
23 Oct 2011, 14:31 pm
Congratulations All Blacks on a tough RWC victory. This was a victory appropriate for the times. After the disasters that have befallen New Zealand of late an uplifting moment like this brings satisfaction to all friends of NZ.
I hope your reign is sweet and short because we will be wanting that trophy back in four years.
23 Oct 2011, 14:32 pm
T.Roal, we don’t miss the likes of you. You are a plonker. Nothing wrong with our education. How were we “lucky” to be there you plank, we were defending champions!
23 Oct 2011, 14:33 pm
Goodnight all.
but most specially to Le Froggie Fans,
Man O man, your Team was good.
Be proud.
23 Oct 2011, 14:35 pm
I blow my nose at south african rugby. This world cup has proven they are lucky quarter finalists. Pfft, shouldn’t have graduated out of their pool. It’s a travesty to world rugby that they did.
Everybody knows they should be thrust down to the European cup level.
IRB should do something about it. Just like their refereeing, another flaw.
T.Roal
x
23 Oct 2011, 14:36 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-649:
You are a joke.
I really dont understand why your such a negative person.
23 Oct 2011, 14:37 pm
@rugby fan(rugby fan)-655:
Through the time zones …………………………………………and it ain’t easy.
I embrace you RF.
Thank You so much.
I know it ain’t easy.
23 Oct 2011, 14:37 pm
@rugby fan(rugby fan)-655:
Thanks fan
23 Oct 2011, 14:37 pm
@cane(cane)-651: Mate I just dont understand how some of my fellow Africans here just can’t give credit when its due. Small man syndrome seems to win out over rational thinking. I remember what it was like when the boks weren’t given credit when they deserved it and fact is that the AB’s were the no 1 ranked side coming into the comp and they’re still ranked no 1 plus the cup at the end of it. I appreciate consistency, it takes a lot of hard work to stay at the top. Anyway I’m outta here, enjoy.
23 Oct 2011, 14:39 pm
@cane(cane)-656:
Cane your too nice.
Lawman has been a disappointment over the last few months.
He is not getting any better.
Shame really.
23 Oct 2011, 14:39 pm
@cane(cane)-659:
23 Oct 2011, 14:40 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-657:
lol thanks Stormer.
23 Oct 2011, 14:40 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-661: Dont worry about sherriff, we are the world champions, he can suck on it long hard and with disappointment, we’re the champs done and dusted!
23 Oct 2011, 14:42 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-665:
sorry that should be You’re not your.
Damn if Kobus was on here i would be in trouble but i think i will be safe for a while. People like Kobus go missing when things dont go their way
23 Oct 2011, 14:42 pm
T.Roal, you want to badmouth our education, but the “I blow my nose at south african rugby” statement proves your lack of class and maybe education. Go play and leave this rugby talk to the adults.
23 Oct 2011, 14:43 pm
@MG. I suspect toilet roal is Lord Kirchner or some other ahrs scratching who can’t teach climac without some fantasy involving veldskoen and a copy of huisgenoot.
23 Oct 2011, 14:43 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-668:
we sure are the champs.
Damn feels good.
23 Oct 2011, 14:44 pm
As the rugby professional I am i recommend South African rugby focus on the grassroots side of things. They have no platform to create great rugby players, they produce breakdown cheats such as brussow and complain that Bryce Lawrence (In my eyes a respected IRB Referee) penalises him for cheating. I don’t understand. South Africans can count themselves lucky, a quarter final for your country? Should be proud!
23 Oct 2011, 14:45 pm
Cane and Hurricane you are welcome with love all the way from Zimbabwe
23 Oct 2011, 14:45 pm
Hurricane, enjoy it, you guys deserve it!
23 Oct 2011, 14:47 pm
I haven’t been to this site for ages, I got so sick of the minority here who’s disgusting vitriol turned me away.
However, great to see the majority of bok fans supporting the ABs in their moment of glory, thanks bokkie fans, It’s the true bok fans and players that make the rivalry so worthwhile.
Just a shame the minority of plonkers here are so sick and twisted, more so than on any site I have ever been to.
23 Oct 2011, 14:48 pm
@ T. Roal. Evening Tackles. So upu were born in England, you say.
23 Oct 2011, 14:48 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-649:
“Mate, South Africans won today.”
Nope, NZ won today, and France gave them a pretty good run for their money. In case you did not notice, the Boks are back in SA, playing CC.
And quit speaking as if you speak on behalf of all South Africans. I’ve been supporting the Vrystaat and the Boks for as long as I can remember, and will continue doing so. That does not prevent me from seeing that NZ has a better team at the moment – one that knocked out Australia in the SF, who knocked out SA in the QF. You can play the victim all you want, but it won’t change a thing about the fact that they’ve got the cup for the next four years, and deserved it.
23 Oct 2011, 14:49 pm
@rugby fan(rugby fan)-674:
Damn that really nice, thank you.
@MG(MG)-675:
Thank you MG,it could have gone either way. Damn French again put up one of those performances that we all knew they were capable of.
23 Oct 2011, 14:50 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-657: We need to be consistently at the top between world cups too. I hope our rugby aspirations move beyond just the world cup every four years and we start to perform during the four years too. So many here were saying that the trinations didnt count that all that counted was the world cup and now we dont have that either. At least OZ have had a good record this year and a trinations title to go with that, what do we have?
23 Oct 2011, 14:50 pm
T.Roal, now you just showed the whole world what a plonker you are. We were not complaining about Bryce penalising us, he was not penalising Pocock. CHOP! And as for the education part of things, I is with a capital, try and spell check before you start throwing stones.
23 Oct 2011, 14:52 pm
It didn’t have the extra time drama of 95, but that was pretty special for a final.
23 Oct 2011, 14:52 pm
What are you All Black fans doing on here anyway??? You should all be out CELEBRATING!!!
23 Oct 2011, 14:53 pm
TO all my Kiwk\i poster friends.
Well done today. I hope that you are enjoying this moment as much as we enjoyed 1995 & 2007.
Best team in the world won today, no doubt.
Spare a thought for the French, as I thought that they were outstanding today. How come this French team can be so resilient one day, and appalling the next.
Richie McCaw – You were/are a brilliant player and Captain. You finally have your rewards. Always humble and agaon so today. Enjoy your moment, your name will go down with the Ealses, Johnsons, Smits, Pienaars as some of the greatest of their generation to lift the crown.
23 Oct 2011, 14:54 pm
This site appears to have been infested with trolls.
23 Oct 2011, 14:55 pm
@MG. It’s Tackles. Same old sorry cyberyarpie who can’t let go.
23 Oct 2011, 14:59 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-684: Speaking about Richie, I reckon he should retire now while he’s on top, he’s definitely not as much of a force as he was a few years ago, even though he did have a good game, but as Smit can attest to its best not to overstay your welcome.
23 Oct 2011, 15:01 pm
Should have knowen. I respect the Real All Black fans. I must say, I think they are better winners than we were in 2007. No gloating, no insults, just very happy. I have learned a lot from you guys today, humble in victoty. I salute you guys.
23 Oct 2011, 15:02 pm
Cheers fellas!
Late lunch here for me in the Republic; I will be having some lovely South African lamb chops etc
All our produce = honest; whether meat, fruit and vegetables ; always honest
And no not a barbecue, it’s a BRAAI
23 Oct 2011, 15:02 pm
So lame arsse Keo has not locked the thread this year
Lets all laught at lame arrse Keo once more anyway for the 10 plus threads he locked when he could not handle losing
Can anyone come up with a more sore loser?
23 Oct 2011, 15:02 pm
Keo is a loser
23 Oct 2011, 15:04 pm
Crapp game, lame performace by us, good refereeing, Henry was ****, the All Blacks won
Really really really stoked with the win
Fork off Henry
23 Oct 2011, 15:06 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-684:
Cheers. Agree. I hope the French No6 captain got player of the day
23 Oct 2011, 15:07 pm
I’m not ‘The Tackler’ from New Zealand. I know it may be hard for you to accept what i’m saying as truth, I never expected it to be. But as time will tell you may have to take a bite of humble pie, so to speak. Oh I am sorry, did I miss the shift key? My apologies. Well done New Zealand a game well earned.
Southern Africans smell like defecation mixed with my nana’s attempt at pikelets. (Unfortunately she’s from south effreeka)
23 Oct 2011, 15:07 pm
NZinChina, in case you are on …. some of the ABs were from outside of Auckland … how do you like that you xenophobic twatt
23 Oct 2011, 15:09 pm
Can’t believe GH threw a tri-nations for this still …. what a twatt
23 Oct 2011, 15:10 pm
@frunobulax(frunobulax)-683:
Home now … its 2:30am … I think
23 Oct 2011, 15:10 pm
Whatever you say Tackles.
23 Oct 2011, 15:11 pm
@Test(Test)-680:
Are you South African? because I could say the same for NZ …. piss of Henry
23 Oct 2011, 15:13 pm
@MG(MG)-688:
Cheers mate … we were very ordinary and very lucky …. won despite the coaches tactics
Looking forward to next season
Damn, do I have to watch the black caps in Zim now
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