All Blacks claim second World Cup
Source: Agencies |
October 24, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HOST New Zealand just about held its collective nerve to edge France 8-7 and win the Rugby World Cup for the second time after a gap of 24 years at Eden Park, Auckland, yesterday.
This was not the coronation that had been predicted but ultimately a first-half try from prop Tony Woodcock and a penalty from fourth-choice flyhalf Stephen Donald proved enough to end the country's long wait for a second triumph after 1987.
"The people have been outstanding ... the people who have supported this team and have supported this World Cup - I am so proud to be a New Zealander standing here," All Blacks coach Graham Henry said just before captain Richie McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup. "There was bit of turmoil up there ... but reflect over the last seven weeks what these people have done throughout the country ... and Richie and the boys just hanging in there right through the match for 80 minutes to win this match is superb."
Having been written off by all but themselves, the French, led by man of the match Thierry Dusautoir, answered the challenge of New Zealand's haka by advancing in an arrow formation before the game and gave the host nation an almighty scare during it.
A converted try in the second half from Dusautoir had the French dreaming of a first World Cup win and the host fearing another failure at rugby's showpiece event against the team that was its nemesis in 1999 and 2007.
"It is a real pity, I am disappointed. But I am really proud of my boys and what they did in the World Cup," said Dusautoir. "We lost two pool matches but we still managed this."
The All Blacks looked sharper and more powerful in the early exchanges as the French ran up blind alleys and were swallowed up by the swarming New Zealand defense. By the 34th minute both starting flyhalves were off the pitch, France's Morgan Parra departing courtesy of a knee to the head and Aaron Cruden succumbing to a knee injury.
A turnover in the 77th was greeted as if it were a try and the match ended three minutes later when the French were penalized for offside, sending the host nation into raptures.
This was not the coronation that had been predicted but ultimately a first-half try from prop Tony Woodcock and a penalty from fourth-choice flyhalf Stephen Donald proved enough to end the country's long wait for a second triumph after 1987.
"The people have been outstanding ... the people who have supported this team and have supported this World Cup - I am so proud to be a New Zealander standing here," All Blacks coach Graham Henry said just before captain Richie McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup. "There was bit of turmoil up there ... but reflect over the last seven weeks what these people have done throughout the country ... and Richie and the boys just hanging in there right through the match for 80 minutes to win this match is superb."
Having been written off by all but themselves, the French, led by man of the match Thierry Dusautoir, answered the challenge of New Zealand's haka by advancing in an arrow formation before the game and gave the host nation an almighty scare during it.
A converted try in the second half from Dusautoir had the French dreaming of a first World Cup win and the host fearing another failure at rugby's showpiece event against the team that was its nemesis in 1999 and 2007.
"It is a real pity, I am disappointed. But I am really proud of my boys and what they did in the World Cup," said Dusautoir. "We lost two pool matches but we still managed this."
The All Blacks looked sharper and more powerful in the early exchanges as the French ran up blind alleys and were swallowed up by the swarming New Zealand defense. By the 34th minute both starting flyhalves were off the pitch, France's Morgan Parra departing courtesy of a knee to the head and Aaron Cruden succumbing to a knee injury.
A turnover in the 77th was greeted as if it were a try and the match ended three minutes later when the French were penalized for offside, sending the host nation into raptures.
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