Rugby World Cup Final 2011 - The All Blacks end the barren run

CELEBRATION: The wait is finally over for New Zealand

THEY have waited 24 years and had to deal with a serious of near-misses and underachieving teams.  However, good things do come to those who wait and New Zealand can claim to be world champions for the first time since 1987.  Infront of a passionate and willing home crowd, they edged out France this morning 8-7 to win the Rugby World Cup final and claim the Webb Ellis Trophy for the second time.  It was a closely fought and intense final, even if it lacked clear try-scoring opportunities and free flowing rugby.  It was a penalty early in the second half from fly-half Stephen Donald that ultimately proved to be the difference.

      Going into the final showpiece and many fans and rugby experts had already written France off.  They had lost embarrassingly to Tonga three weeks ago in the pool stages and have struggled as a unit to gel properly Down Under.  Meanwhile, the All Blacks were quietly confident after their semi-final demolition of Australia last weekend.  However, this new crop of stars was wary of the potential for an upset; as France had knocked them out sensationally of two tournaments in the past; 1999 and 2007.  They were also the last side to beat New Zealand in rugby internationals at Eden Park, Auckland – way back in 1994.

      The opening stages promised much for the Northern Hemisphere side, but just like in the earlier pool match between these sides, it was the Kiwis who brokethrough first.  Veteran prop Tony Woodcock, who had been part of the side that experienced that quarter-final heartbreak in Cardiff four years ago, charged through a gap in the French defence from a well-worked lineout.  Within 12 minutes, the favourites were infront and the fears of the potential demolition people had forecasted before kick-off might have been realised.  Luckily for France, Piri Weepu had a dreadful night with the boot; missing with all three of his early kicks, including the conversion for Woodcock’s try. 

     Meanwhile, fly-half’s in the match kept getting injured left, right and centre.  France’s no.10, Morgan Parra was forced out of the game, thanks to a head injury.  Moments later, Donald, who wasn’t even in New Zealand’s RWC squad at the start of the competition, got his chance when Aaron Cruden was carried off the pitch by the New Zealand physio with what looked like a serious knee injury.  First choice fly-half’s Dan Carter and Colin Slade had already been sidelined during the tournament by injury.  Early after the restart and Donald kicked a simple penalty over the posts to install an eight point lead.

      However, France kept battling and produced their best performance of the tournament by a long distance.  They ended up setting up a nervous last half-hour for the hosts, producing the best piece of rugby in the match which resulted in a try for the captain, Thierry Dusatoir.  However, Francois Trinh-Duc missed a long-range penalty in the last ten minutes and the hosts grimly held on for a famous and deserved victory.

     For France, it was a disappointing end to a tremendous effort, which not only won the respect of the crowd in Eden Park, but won them back both pride and redemption after their nightmarish string of performances in the pool stages.  Unlike their defeats in the finals of 1987 and 1999, they can hold their heads up high at giving it everything and pushing the favourites all the way.

DELIVERED: Richie McCaw and his team came through for a nation

     It was left to Prime Minister John Key to hand the golden trophy to New Zealand captain and one of the best flankers to have ever played the game, Richie McCaw.  McCaw joins the likes of Francois Pienaar, John Eales and Martin Johnson who have had the honour of lifting aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy, alongside colourful fireworks, pyrotechnics and an electric singing performance from the voice of this World Cup, Hayley Westerna.  For New Zealand the rugby team, they were the best side in the six weeks of competition and this time, they delivered for a public who craved another rugby success.  For New Zealand the nation, it is a fitting triumph for a country that had to deal with the River Pike mining tragedy and the devastating earthquake in Christchurch back in the spring.  Now, they have something to smile about.

      So, thank you New Zealand for putting on a spectacular show and congratulations to the All Blacks, fitting winners of the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup.