World Cup - All Blacks happy to win ugly
New Zealand's 8-7 victory over France in the World Cup final was hardly built on free-flowing champagne rugby but the All Blacks were happy enough to win ugly and end the 24-year wait to be crowned world champions.
Number eight Kieran Read, who came through an injury-hindered start to the tournament, was full of praise for his team mates and the character they showed to grind out a result against an inspired France side at Eden Park.
"It is just unbelievable ... just the stuff we've had to get through -- it has been a long time coming. So right now it is awesome, mate," he said.
"We expected it (from the French) no doubt about that -- they are a quality outfit. It is just guts ... this team is really strong, it was just backing ourselves. You have got to be happy with a win wherever it comes from.
"We just had to back ourselves. Our discipline was outstanding -- it is just character and there is plenty of that in the group.
"I just feel like falling over, my legs are giving way. It is awesome, the ride it has been, the way the nation has supported us. It has been unbelievable."
Fullback Israel Dagg, who scored the opening try of the World Cup against Tonga and was one of the standout players of the tournament, was equally emotional.
"We're just so stoked to grind out that win and win the World Cup for New Zealand," he said.
The 23-year-old, who was not even born the last time the All Blacks won the World Cup in 1987, said he could not wait to celebrate the victory with his parents.
"I'm pretty sure they're up in the stands having a few tears, letting it all soak in but I just can't wait to see them at the hotel and have a little hug with mum and dad," he said.
"I'm sure they'll be emotional, I'm just so stoked, words can't explain it to be honest."
Replacement flyhalf Stephen Donald played the last six minutes of the first half and the whole of the second, calmly slotting the penalty that ultimately proved decisive.
It was a remarkable turnaround for a player who was New Zealand's fourth choice at the tournament after the injured Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden.
It was Donald's first taste of action at the tournament and came only a couple of weeks after he was called into the squad while fishing for whitebait on the Waikato river.
"Didn't he do well? Steve Donald... superb!" said coach Graham Henry, with Read adding: "Stephen Donald? He's gone through a lot, but that's just courage. You have got to hand it to him. That is pretty special."
Comment 108 - 127 of 127
Before, I respected the AB. Not anymore after this blatant treachery that gave them the WC. They have been the best team (ranked #1) over the past years but the WC is not about rewarding a team for its past achievement but about winning games on D-Day and on October 23rd, the best team was France.
Take a look at Youtube:RWC Final - 23rd Oct 2011 - Refereeing discussion from The Breakdown, then be kind to the French!
the sour grapes are really going to town against the all blacks. all i can say to these people is you can say anything you want or you can rant till hell freezes over but nothing will change the fact that france lost and the all blacks won.
The french should be world champs, they out played the all blacks who cheated their way to a win with a penalty that missed!. You can't even watch the replay now on youtube as the IRB have had it removed for Copyright reasons. Sounds to me like a real stich up and conspiracy!!!
football scores not rugby scores. the teams after the group stages were afraid to lose. What were the average points per game in this WC? Kicking the ball should be banned. Extra time and penalties are looming in the next WC!
110 Pilpogoran -"Well done NZ, you've got the cup and you've undoubtedly been the best team over the last 4 years, no question. But yesterday was a different matter, and the image I will remember from the final will be that of ABs looking aghast in those dying minutes of the game, not daring to swing the ball wide and running the clock down... Now we're talking about the world famous ABs, on their own turf in Auckland!! I had never seen that from them -- looking so scared of losing it all at the 80th minute.
"
100% agreed
122 Kerry - no, if there is any fault with the refereeing then that will NOT be dealt with by the correct authorities. Because they don't care.
I think that in future, the world cup games should be shown on the comedy channel. It has no business being on a sports channel .I will say to my kids come and watch these comedians and especially the one with the whistle, he is the funniest of the lot. The only thing missing is the custard pies
I am an Englishman and have no particular love for the French, but it is so obvious they were cheated. I have never seen such blatent, obvious insulting bias before by a referee. New Zealand are a good team, but without the ref on their side they would have lost. This has confirmed in my mind that the "winners" of the cup had already been decided a long time ago. I am just wondering who the powers that be have decided to give the cup to next time, as that has also been decided in advance. I think the whole thing has been devalued to the point of being some slapstick spectacle. This sort of arrogant corruption is breathtaking, and New Zealand please please dont think you had anything to do with that result.
McCaw = cheater, shame on IRB!
To violent_torpedo-of-truth_17, what's this nonesense about Dusautoir eye gauging "innocent" Mc Caw? Are you talking about the man permenantly coming in the rucks from the side, handling the ball while on the ground, never rolling away once he made a tackle, viciously kneeing Para?
Mc Caw is the world's biggest cheat. Pity, he doesn't need that to be superb...
If there is any fault with the refereeing then that will be dealt with by the correct authorities.
Blubbing about it won't help (though you may feel some tempory relief) but by far a better approach is to congratulate both teams on putting their all on the line for the sport we love.
Go to youtube and type in RWC final refereeing decisions from the breakdown. Click on the vid by cutebabyhedgehog and watch the whole thing. Then, all you Kiwis, tell us how you can sleep in your beds peacefully thinking you won the world cup fair and square. My French friends, you were robbed. And this is coming from an Englishman!
Huum, as French, it was clear here that NZ press attacks against the french team were not reflecting the NZ people overall mindset.... French teams look to be able to be far better than expected when they are blamed and worst than nothing when being 'favoris'. Whatever, I enjoyed the final. 80 minutes of high intensity ....
that is called being so close to victory without actually winning France were the better side and without that stupid essay at the 14th minute they would have been champions. They totally outplayed the AB in the second half and should have been rewarded for their massive performance. Maybe the All Blacks deserved to win the tournament ... but France deserved to win the actual game. And this is the game that wins the tournament.
As a Kiwi, I have felt shame at how the press has treated other nations! They created real hate of other nations, which is tragic as sport should unify people
Where is the citing team who have been spotting transgressions? Howcome neither they nor the ref saw what everone saw???????????????????????????????????????
new zealand were always going to win. if france had of scored in the last few minutes i would say 100% it would not have been given for any reason possible plus mccaw you are a lowlife scumbag cheat. you knew @#$% well what you were doing. then again joubert was blind to new zealand fouls but not french. cheats are the worst kind of winners and yous are just that cheats.
would new zealand like it if teams bent over for them during their pathetic dance plus throat slitting is an incitment to violence you clowns. stuff 2015 if cheats like this can win. i mean joubert next time just wear a new zealand jersey and be done with it. the final was a disgrace won by a kick that looked very dodgy. 2011 what a joke. should have given them the @#$% trophy before it began. irb yous are cheats. paddy o' joke you are the biggest clown of all.
As a kiwi it is very dis-heartening to see alot of this negative and personal attacks on the NZ people. I would guess that all the haters were not actually in NZ for the tournament and are either trusting the press (who's job it is to cause controvestity, and sell papers).. or simply making up their reasons for Kiwi bashing. I think kiwi's can stand tall and be proud of the way we hosted the event and the hospitality shown to our overseas guests. Many lasting freindships were formed during this tournament. Yes, as for every country thier were a small minority that behaved like idiots and made a bad impression on some people, that was not a NZ thing..That was an idiot thing that you find in every country. Everybody is entittled to their own opinion, but please remember when you are being nasty and personalised in your attacks..are you any better than the minority that embarrased the majority....or are part of that minority? I look forward to visiting England in 4 years time to enjoy some excellent English hospitality. Love Rugby, Love life. Peace
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