A point that made a point
24 Oct 2011
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day newspaper column, applauds New Zealand’s defensive effort in the World Cup final.
France earned the respect of all New Zealanders and the All Blacks surely earned the respect of the rugby world.
You cannot begrudge the All Blacks their moment, and you also cannot deny captain Richie McCaw his finest 80 minutes as an international player. He is finally a world champion.
France captain Thierry Dusautoir was the player of the match but it was the player of the past decade (McCaw) who got gold on the night.
Some may say the rugby gods have a heart, especially if you remember McCaw’s night — and face — at the 2007 World Cup in Cardiff four years ago when France beat the All Blacks 20-18.
McCaw and the All Blacks deserved the win. Not just because of their defensive effort on the night, but because of what they have dealt with at this tournament — expectation, pressure and injury setbacks.
Home-ground advantage is big in any tournament but in World Cups it has been a curse. New Zealand are the first host nation to win the World Cup in the professional era and they did it with their fourth choice at flyhalf, Stephen Donald, for the final 45 minutes.
They did it without Dan Carter and they did it with McCaw playing the entire tournament with a foot injury that will require surgery.
It is easy to forget the obstacles New Zealand had to overcome because of France’s effort but it would be doing the defensive quality of this final a disservice.
France had offered nothing at this tournament. They had been awful and had been beaten twice in the league stages. They were told they were a disgrace to the romance of French rugby and the World Cup heroics of their predecessors. But they are France and with the French you never know who gets out of bed, let alone who pitches up to play a game of rugby.
They are also players who believe the only rugby experience better than playing the All Blacks is beating them. I can’t applaud their effort enough. Then again neither can I that of the All Blacks.
France’s intensity spooked the All Blacks four years ago, but this time New Zealand were prepared for the physicality of France, and to a man they backed their defensive system and backed the bloke on the inside and the outside to make his tackle. This is a team that trusted in each other as much as each guy did himself.
France were monstrous in the collisions. Dusautoir played the game of his life. France played more intelligently than they have all tournament, and like a team with a plan.
France played from set piece to set piece, limited idiotic decision-making in their own half and played like a team with the belief that they could strangle New Zealand up front and outkick them.
This was raw passion from France. They played for their honour, their dignity and the right to be World Cup champions, but they never had the attacking threat to match either the power of their pack or the intent of their minds. It has been their Achilles heel all tournament.
The All Blacks in the professional era have always been accused of not respecting winning ugly. They did that at Eden Park and their defensive effort was monumental.
France will get many accolades because they defied the belief that the All Blacks would win easily, but if the adage is true that World Cups are won on defence, then New Zealand are deserved winners.
There were heroes on both sides and thankfully no villains, even though All Black Piri Weepu would probably have had to emigrate if France had been the champions.
Weepu missed two penalties, a conversion and kick-started France’s solitary try with a chip kick that landed in a French hand and ended in seven points for France.
He also suffered at the base of the scrum because of the French effort, more than the New Zealand lack of effort, but when the battered All Black forwards had to produce their biggest effort of the last four years they did so in the last four minutes of the World Cup final. They kept the ball for three minutes, forced the penalty and won the game that for the people of New Zealand was so much more than a rugby result.
And it was as if the rugby gods were reminding all of New Zealand about humility. New Zealand would win it by a point to make a point.
Crushing the French would have resulted in New Zealand arrogance and perhaps another 24-year wait for the gold cup.
But to be in Auckland last night was to know there was nothing blasé about this New Zealand celebration.
There was just relief and recognition that attack wins you the Tri-Nations but defence wins you the World Cup.
464 Comments
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24 Oct 2011, 10:07 am
Grit all right.
24 Oct 2011, 10:12 am
I thought the All Blacks needed alot of luck on Sunday as France played better than they did. Rougeie woser, Sonny Bill Who?, Smith who? , Nonu who? Rougerie annihialated those little boys on Sunday!!!
Even the commentators were saying allt he 50/50 decisions went to the ABs. They will never defend their title in 4 years time!!
24 Oct 2011, 10:32 am
Congrats to the Blacks.
Certainly not the convincing win most expected and some have even said downright lucky but it has to be said they deserve being crowned world champs officially.
I thought Joubert was lenient to both sides but definitely favoured Ritchies men.
Dusatior is fast becoming one of my all time favourite players. Immense respect.
24 Oct 2011, 10:38 am
Congrats to the All Black!!! But i am so glad that the French played like they did in the final. The best team of the tournament and world champs might be the All Black. But the best team on the day was the french…
24 Oct 2011, 10:40 am
Joubert had the worst game of the tournament….he missed so much in the first half…and to top that off the AB’s played their worst game in the Cup..and we still managed to pull it off…so happy we won:)
I don’t think AB’s will worry now and we could see them win all their games next year without all that pressure anymore..
24 Oct 2011, 10:42 am
I still cant bring myself to watch the replay.Nerves are shattered,and every time i closed my eyes last night there where 15 Frenchmen lining up for a drop goal!Bring on the men in white jackets,i need a rest in a nice soft padded cell.
24 Oct 2011, 10:43 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-2:
some of those were nowhere near 50/50 decisions.
that one lineout that actually landed about 3 or more meters inside the all blacks line and never got blown.
lots of 70/30 and 90/10 decisions.
24 Oct 2011, 10:44 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-2:
You’re an idiot, show some f**kin respect man
24 Oct 2011, 10:52 am
@ litelock, get back on the horse and watch the replay…. Actually it calmed my nerves, as on a second viewing I thought the abs were more in control (or at least, less out if control) than I had thought when at the game.
24 Oct 2011, 10:52 am
True grit, my butt. Craig Joubert showed true shamelesness, and that was the sole reason why the All Blacks won. They were outplayed. They had one try that came from a line-out inside France’s 22m that came from a bogus penalty. And they had three points from another bogus penalty. France had 7 legitimate points from a converted try., and should have had a truckload more penalties from McCaw’s constant transgressions at the breakdown. This tournament was gift-wrapped for the All Blacks and handed to them on a platter. Being the best team in the early stages of the tournament, or for the last four years or 24 years or whatever, does NOT entitle you to a gift win in a World Cup Final. The IRB makes me sick, Craig Joubert makes me sick, and the All Blacks – well, if they’re honest with themselves, they should know that their win was and remains badly tainted.
24 Oct 2011, 10:53 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-7: You need to go back and watch the first half…there was one part where the french player played the ball on the ground in an offside position and it was obvious as daylight…and Joubert missed it .. he missed a lot on both sides but hey that’s life.
really in the end if Weepu hadn’t of missed so much…and our players hadn’t made some bad passes you most likely wouldn’t have even got a try our defense was so good…
24 Oct 2011, 10:57 am
@pierre(pierre)-10: Bad luck Pierre..Winners are Grinners..France played really well..but infringed just as much as us if not more..Joubert just had a bad game..hes really the best ref out there…he had a bad day how sad to bad:)
24 Oct 2011, 11:03 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-7: @pierre(pierre)-10:
You phukkers whined about the Ref after the:
- SA/Samoa game.
- SA/Australia game.
And now, the NZ/France game.
How do you pitifull creatures, ever get yourselves motivated to get out of bed in the mornings.
LOSERS!
Oh and I expect more sour grapes when the IRB Awards for Team, Coach and Player are named.
Just can’t help yourselves can you.
24 Oct 2011, 11:11 am
@toby(toby)-12: True, although Craig is a very poor referee, he is one of the best in the world. It’s a general problem – the standard of Test refereeing at the moment just happens to be very bad, and was exposed as such at this tournament. Time to roll out the technology, I think. Give the TMO powers to intervene during the game if he sees something that the on-field referee didn’t, and let the TMO watch the game on a screen with a superimposed white line for application of the offside rule.
24 Oct 2011, 11:14 am
Yeah, congrats to the ABs, glad to see that the French showed up and played with passion. Also so much for great running rugby finals. ****, if both side s are passionate then the games become much tighter.
Glad for Richie, Donald and DC (who I see got his medal as well) …
Great respect for French loosies and midfield who never took a step back.
Finally glad I’m not french supporter, bloody hell talk about inconsistency!
If they can get their act together more consistently then they will be a very difficult to contend with 2015
24 Oct 2011, 11:17 am
@The Chokerman – formerly cane(cane)-13:
It is quite sad, isn’t it.
Anyway, congrats on your team winning the World Cup and hosting a great tournament. Really well done.
24 Oct 2011, 11:20 am
@Craven(Craven)-16: Oh yeah, true that, the tournament was superbly run. Very well hosted, cane.
24 Oct 2011, 11:33 am
Was Paddy O’Brien wearing his gold medal last night?
Kiwis dessrved winners but I do think their path to the final was help by some very fortious refereeing and results earlier in the series.
There is no way the Kiwis would have won if they had to play the Argies in the quarters, the Boks in the semis and the Aussies in the final – no way
24 Oct 2011, 11:36 am
@The Chokerman – formerly cane(cane)-13: We’re not all like that, congrats on a great win and tournament.
I thought Craig had a good game, of course he missed a few calls but I don’t think there was any bias in the way he blew (unlike Brycie
).
He missed things on both sides but in a game of intesity like that its bound to happen.
One thing that did concern me is the reffing of the high tackle though.
24 Oct 2011, 11:37 am
@Train(Train)-18: Same could be said about any champions run in to the final, would we have won in 2007 if our path had been different – its all speculation.
24 Oct 2011, 11:39 am
@The Chokerman – formerly cane(cane)-13:
Cane, congratulations to your team.
Long time overdue.
I hope you’re enjoying the celebrations.
24 Oct 2011, 11:41 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-20:
Agreed.
I have seen some South Africans stating New Zealand are not true champions since they did not get to play the Springboks.
But the same could then be said of South Africa’s win in 2007.
Nonsense. The All Blacks are the world champions. Congratulations to them.
24 Oct 2011, 11:42 am
Nice pics of Ritchie on the open-top truck victory parade.
24 Oct 2011, 11:45 am
@The Chokerman – formerly cane(cane)-13:
Listen
You kiwis can stop being onbeskof now OK
We have congratulated until we are blue in the face
You not so bad, but your buddies panther and tackler are gonna feel my venom soon.
24 Oct 2011, 11:47 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-19: I thought Craig had a bad game, since he did the same thing he always does: heavily favouring the home team. I think Craig is just an overly sensistive fella who blanches at the thought of being booed by the home crowd. Remember his performance at Orlando Stadium in the Super Rugby final last year? How about his subsequent performance at King’s Parl for the Currie Cup final? It’s not overtly awful refereeing such as you would see from a Paul Honiss. It’s just giving the home team a bit more leeway, being slightly stricter on the away team, and thus facilitating the result that is both expected by everyone and desired by the home crowd.
24 Oct 2011, 11:47 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-24:
Hi Dawn,
I see Harry the Beachwalker is still very sour.
24 Oct 2011, 11:48 am
@toby(toby)-11:
the french played the game of their lives, you guys were lucky to hold on from minutes 41 to 75 imo. still feel they deserved more penalties though.
but, you’re the champions of the world right now…well done.
@The Chokerman – formerly cane(cane)-13:
i said it right after the game and i’m saying it again cane…
well done to the all blacks, its was gritty and the french really brought it to you but you did just enough to see it through in the end…so are deserved champions.
still, i do feel france had you and they could/should have won it if the ref had the guts to make a few big calls.
enjoy the next four years…
24 Oct 2011, 11:53 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-26:
He will never get over it.
I will be over there in 2015.
With him and Bokkie
24 Oct 2011, 11:53 am
Well Done NZ for hosting and winning a great WC !! You can feel proud ! Deserved World Champs !!!
24 Oct 2011, 11:54 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-27: How is that different from saying that France was robbed by the referee? If you want to tell it like it is, then do so without trying to couch it in empty congratulatory etiquette.
24 Oct 2011, 11:56 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-2:
Thanks Tan.
You said we wont win this RWC as well, things are looking good for 2015.
24 Oct 2011, 12:01 pm
@pierre(pierre)-10:
Suppose you said the same post about the france win in 2007?
We did and were called sore losers. Why should you not be called the same
24 Oct 2011, 12:03 pm
The right team maybe deserved to win on the balance of preformance fpor the tournament but one cannot help feel that the tournament has been scarred by poor reffing.
Joubert had been brilliant all tournament and was head and shoulders above most refs until the final that is. For some reason he did not want a decision he made to decide the world cup thus like Bryce Lawrence it was more the decisions he did not blow that ended up having a profound impact on the game. That is not to say that his assistants could not assist with high tackles, the offside line and one or two off ball incidents. I feel for France because it is not their fault that they were on the receiving end of a bad decision against Wales. France maybe deserved more and some would say that maybe their luck ran out but it is rather sad that here we are discussing a reffing display again when we should be celebrating a great tournament for NZ.
The Blacks clearly choked and at one stage seemed destined to fall short yet again had one or two brave blatant calls been made by the ref most probably would have. Had Weepu kicked his kicks the contest could have been over by half time. Once all said and done maybe the correct team won the world cup. Sadly the best team on the night did not win the game yet again.
In years time all that will be recalled is a Black victory but for me personally this worldcup has been blighted by poor reffing in big games, where as the WC 2007 was only one game and the Blacks should have had a final against the Boks. Though in 2007 I only really recall the Frenck / AB game as really poor reffing even though many English will always point to the try that never was.
Congratualations All Blacks!
24 Oct 2011, 12:07 pm
@pierre(pierre)-25: Actually I don’t think he favoured anyone..he seemed just off in his reffing…it’s easy to have a go at the ref….but it just came down to a better defensive effort…yes France deserved to win too..but unfortunately can only be one winner…next time?
24 Oct 2011, 12:09 pm
@pie eater(pie eater)-33: Cmon there’s no conspiracy..that game could have gone either way.
24 Oct 2011, 12:14 pm
Congrats to the Kiwis – must be a massive relief and they play great rugby. What a massive captain they have in RM (whatever individual opinions are)…
To the French – hard luck. They were by far the better team on the day and can count themselves very unlucky, but it was a very mixed tournament for them… a few players were immense (Dussatoir, Bonnaire, Nallet, Trin Duc, Rougerie, Servat – the whole team really)!
Overall, I’m left with a sour taste in my mouth from this WC – far too many results that weren’t decided by the quality of the teams’ respective performances on the day. Paddy and the refs need to be brought to book on this one!
24 Oct 2011, 12:14 pm
How the hell did Thierry Dusautoir get IRB player of the year…Kaino was miles ahead in my book..must be a conspiracy:)
24 Oct 2011, 12:14 pm
wasn’t rugby gods who had a heart was Craig Joubert who has a soft one that can’t bring himself round to blow the game unblemished of bias or clear cut dispassionately.
If rugby gods were fair they’d have blown the game according to the law and AB’s would have been penalized within strike range at least couple times in last 20.
So nothing to do with rugby gods having hearts got everything to do with setup desires and designs at managing and manipulating proceedings to fulfil pre favoring outcomes not by gods but by men with agendas and wishful desires to see the home team or the favored of the hierarchy to be ultimately crowned.
24 Oct 2011, 12:14 pm
@pierre(pierre)-30:
i dont think the message will ever get through under any circumstance but am at least trying to send it in a good medium in the hope there will be a more honest telling by our kiwi friends.
24 Oct 2011, 12:15 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-32: Because I never called you sore losers, mate. I thought you guys were 100% entitled to have a rant about Wayne Barnes after he f**ked it up for you in 2007. I never called you “whingers” or anything. Same goes for France now. I’m a Bok supporter, but I’m prepared to recognise South African incompetence when I see it, and Craig Joubert is “it”.
24 Oct 2011, 12:16 pm
@NicG(NicG)-36: sounds like dejavu from past World Cups.
24 Oct 2011, 12:17 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-38: We would have been miles ahead from all his mistakes in the firest half so it equals out:)
24 Oct 2011, 12:19 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-28: By a bizarre coincidence, you have just revealed the identity of Harry the Beachwalker to me. It appears we have a mutual friend. I know him from varsity days and we’re both lawyers now.
24 Oct 2011, 12:19 pm
@toby(toby)-37: It’s obviously a guilt thing. The IRB appear to be favouring the AB’s, so this is supposed to tilt things back a little.
Not sure it does though.
24 Oct 2011, 12:20 pm
Toby it’s not a conspiracy. It’s sport unfortunately which like life can be cruel. It is not the Blacks fault Joubert had an off day as it was not Frances fault that the reff had a bad day the week before. I am not going to discuss the SA game as I am biased and Bryce is just not a good reff full stop. We all watched the same game and I honestly don’t believe Joubert was biased as he is most probably the best reff in the world. Just like any sportsman can have a bad day, why can’t a reff not? Joubert did not call quite a few calls that he wouldn’t have missed on another day. The unfortunate thing for me is that a deserved victory for the stand out team of the last decade cannot be celebrated by the neutral as for me the best team on the day did not win.
I do not begrudge the AB their victory as they have more than deserved it, however rugby was not the winner and in my mind I can’t help but feel their were too many calls missed that would have affected the game.
24 Oct 2011, 12:21 pm
Well done to the AB!
24 Oct 2011, 12:21 pm
New zealand’s defence? Do you mean employing two players on the wrong side of the ruck to shield the ball? McKakface lying all over the ball entering from wrong side whenever he pleased? Or those multiple cheap shot high tackles? New Zealand are not worthy champions nor are they a great side. Their only edge is that they get to play outside the laws in EVERY game. That final proves only one thing… rugby is as corrupt as football, probably more so, as that kind of biased officiating would never have been ignored at a FIFA World Cup! I wish New Zealand many tremors the next four years, at least some justice outside the game to pay for their cheating and corrupt affiliations.
24 Oct 2011, 12:22 pm
Wonder if the factories in Epping 1 or Epping 2 had any workers left after the heroics of the AB?
24 Oct 2011, 12:23 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-47:
Doos
24 Oct 2011, 12:24 pm
Vive La France
Vive la revolution
Vive la difference…
FucktheKiwis
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