Author Archives: Luke Norris

Yesterday saw one of the biggest games in history. When the New Zealand All Blacks played France in the finals for the Rugby World Cup 2011. I was on the edge of my seat the whole game and with the final score being 8-7 to the All Blacks it was a sigh of relief when the ref blew the full time whistle at the 80th minute. It was great to see so many kiwi supporters take over Hong Kong city for the night and I’ve decided to not take my All Blacks t-shirt off for the week in celebration to my team. Well done boys. It’s been 4 years of blood sweat and tears but you guys pulled together and came up on top.

SkyNews Article –

Finally, after 24 years of heartbreak and choking jokes, the All Blacks’ drought has broken.

New Zealand on Sunday night ended a string of bewildering Rugby World Cup failures to confirm themselves as world champions by holding off an inspired France 8-7 in an epic Eden Park final.

Making a mockery of predictions of a bloodbath, the underdog French threw down the first serious challenge to the All Blacks all tournament and almost pulled off the impossible.

Les Bleus trailed by just one point for 33 nerve-wracking minutes but, for once, the Kiwis held firm under pressure to the immense delight and relief of an Auckland capacity crowd of 60,000.

Both sides lost their playmakers Aaron Cruden (knee) and Morgan Parra (jaw) to first half injuries but it was fourth-string five-eighth Stephen Donald who stepped up to be an unlikely hero for New Zealand.

Ultimately it was his 45th minute penalty goal that allowed skipper Richie McCaw to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the All Blacks for the first time since they took out the inaugural competition way back in 1987.

It gives New Zealand their second World Cup title, drawing them level with Tri Nations rivals Australia (1991 and 1999) and South Africa (1995 and 2007).

The Kiwis’ World Cup hoodoo has featured two shock sudden-death losses to France before, choking in the 1999 semi-final and 2007 quarter-final, but they were defending an amazing 27-match winning streak at Eden Park.

Their last loss at the Auckland ground was back in 1994 when an inspired Les Bleus produced their memorable ‘try from end of the world’ for a thrilling triumph.

Entering the decider as the luckiest of finalists following two pool losses and a 9-8 semi-final escape against a 14-man Wales, France needed the same sort of inspiration to topple the unbackable favourites ($1.09).

They provided it.

Marc Lievremont’s seemingly divided squad immediately showed they were up for a monumental fight by linking arms in a flying wedge and advancing on the All Blacks pre-match haka.

Les Bleus continued to throw down the challenge in the opening exchanges, chancing their arm to attack on the wider fringes and recycling possession.

However, New Zealand’s defence soaked up the pressure and they then pounced at their first opportunity within the French 22 in the 15th minute.

A clever lineout move saw Brad Thorn, in his international swansong, take the throw-in and immediately pass off inside to an unmarked Tony Woodcock and the veteran pack strolled over to become the most unlikely of first scorers.

The All Blacks took control of the rest of the half but couldn’t extend their 5-0 lead as in-form halfback Piri Weepu lost his mojo, missing all three shots at goal.

The kicking duties were given to Donald and he duly slotted the match’s only penalty from six attempts.

It was when Weepu desperately kick-passed a loose ball on midway into the arms of Francois Trinh-Duc minutes after the resumption that the hosts got the wobbles.

A 50m move ended with French skipper Thierry Dusatoir crossing next to the posts.

From the restart Weepu kicked out on the full and there was a terrible hush over Eden Park as it appeared lightning may strike a third time.

But Trinh-Duc failed to kick a 48m penalty with 15 minutes to play and the gutsy All Blacks defence proved impenetrable for a famous win.

‘I’m so proud of all the guys,’ McCaw said. ‘We were in trouble at times but we stuck tight and got their in the end.’

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