New Zealand is back on top of the rugby world with the All Blacks ending their 24 year Rugby World Cup losing drought beating France 8-7 in the Rugby World Cup final last night.
After a nail biting 80 minute game in which the French challenged the All Blacks at every opportunity, New Zealand’s 8-7 victory was hard fought and it was the closest RWC final ever.
Replacement first five-eighth Stephen Donald kicked the crucial penalty after 45 minutes, to give the All Blacks an 8-0 lead.
But French captain Thierry Dusatoir shocked the 63,000 strong crowd by pouncing on a Piri Weepu scrum error and scoring beside the posts.
Dusatoir was named man of the match but it was his All Blacks counterpart captain Richie McCaw who made one of the key late plays, forcing a French turnover with minutes to go, giving the All Blacks the late possession they needed.
And then they held on till the final whistle.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was on cloud number nine with the performance of his players to win the final.
For France, Thierry Dusatoir was disappointed with the loss knowing how close they were to upsetting the All Blacks.
Winning coach Graham Henry summed it up with a marvelous game from his troops.
France backline coach Emile Ntamack said that it was hard to lose in the final with the way they played for 80 minutes.
It was a night for celebration as all the pain, all the angst, all the national soul searching of the intervening years poured out into a black-clad celebration as the All Blacks swept aside France, as they had in 1987.
It was a night for revenge, for the settling of scores with a side that had bundled New Zealand out of the Cup in 1999, then again in the 2007 quarterfinals, one of the darkest days in the history of the treasured black jersey.
All Blacks Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock and Zac Guildford were not born when New Zealand last won the Cup, and reserve Victor Vito was just three months old.
For McCaw, it was the ultimate prize at the end of a tournament in which he dragged his aching body through ruck after ruck, tackle after tackle, to finally lay to rest the misery of the quarterfinal loss in Cardiff four years ago.
Story by: Dreu Vukailagi
Feature
All Blacks win Rugby World Cup
