Almost A Losing Game- But It’s Back To Black

Despite finishing the tournament with a third choice Scrum Half & a fourth choice Out Half New Zealand clung on to defeat a spirited second half charge from a French side who finally brought their A game into a memorable final. When the two sides met earlier in the tournament France produced a stunning start against the doyens of World rugby but were still destroyed, tonight the French produced their best form to almost deny New Zealand their first William Webb Ellis trophy in 24 years.
The inaugural World Champions way back in 1987 had scores to settle with a French side who had denied them their shots at glory in previous tournaments and just held on as the Six Nations’ most flamboyant side showed steel & determination to make this final an absorbing tussle with just a point between them as neither side gave any quarter. It was blood & guts at it’s finest as New Zealand dominated the opening half with only a try from Tony Woodcock to show for their dominance as yet again Piri Weepu’s radar was off as he missed the conversion and two penalties which would have put the hosts well ahead.
After the break the French came at the All Blacks with renewed vigour as they dominated in all areas particularly in the set pieces with their line out , scrum & ruck work all dominant.The French breakthrough came from their totemic leader Dusautoir as he touched down with Trinh -Duc adding the extra points to make it a bum squeaker of a game with over a quarter of the game left. Neither side could add points but it was nonetheless a gripping encounter as both had long phases of posession but couldn’t add to their tallies. When the final whistle was blown New Zealand heaved a massive sigh of relief as they held on to finally win their Holy Grail which they will dedicate to the people of Christchurch after the appalling earthquake which devastated the area earlier this year. After a top tournament with 48 matches played the hosts acheived their destiny but there are honourable mentions for Ireland after their defeat of Australia,Tonga after their defeat of France, Wales for making the semi finals and France for their performance in the decider despite having a poor tournament by their standards- the World has been in Union for the last six weeks & it has been a magnificent tournament with the fairytale outcome that a tiny but proud host nation hoped for.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read.

Replacements: Andrew Hore (for Mealamu, 49), Ben Franks, Ali Williams (for Whitelock, 48), Adam Thomson, Andy Ellis (for Weepu, 49), Stephen Donald (for Cruden, 34), Sonny Bill Williams (for Nonu, 76).

France: Maxime Médard, Vincent Clerc, Aurélien Rougerie Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson, Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Papé, Lionel Nallet, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski (for Servat, 65), Fabien Barcella (for Poux, 65) Julien Pierre (for Pape, 70), Fulgence Ouedraogo, Jean-Marc Doussain (for Yachvili, 76), François Trinh-Duc (temp for Parra, 12-17, then 22) Damien Traille (for Clerc, 45).

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

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