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The world of rugby is black: the New Zealanders on the rugby supremacy is now complete after their victory Saturday, October 31 in Twickenham, on Australia (34-17) in the final of the eighth edition of the World Cup. The teammates of captain Richie McCaw, who was making his international farewell with other comrades as flyhalf Dan Carter and Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith centers beat their “neighbors” after a beautiful final, first royally dominated by Australian winners before an unexpected comeback. But the mad hope the Wallabies was nipped in the bud by tactical intelligence and precision at the foot of the match hero Dan Carter.
With three coronations, after those of 1987 and 2011, All Blacks become the most successful selection of this competition before their unfortunate opponents in the final and those of the half, the South Africans, who remain two triumphs each. And they end a curse: it is the first time they are needed in the World Cup outside their Eden Park. Finally, men in silver fern become the first to win the award in two consecutive editions.
Last haka
This final 100% Southern Hemisphere was unprecedented in World Cup, but seemed promised since the beginning of the tournament. On the lawn were deployed twin flags featuring the Union Jack in the upper left corner and the Southern Cross on a dark blue background. What distinguishes them? Four red stars for New Zealand, six white for Australia. The Webb Ellis Cup is laid before both teams at the time hymns. A blue-white-red tricolor plume streak the sky after the passage of a plane. It is not a tribute to France, just the colors of the Royal Air Force. Then sounded the last World haka, led by replacement hooker Keven Mealamu before impassive Australians.
These are New Zealanders who take the conduct of business. After five minutes of occupation of the Australian camp also rises the penultimate (there will be a bis in the second half) and quite incongruous Swing Low, Sweet Chariot , the swan song of a host country has virtually eliminated there a month. It turns off when Dan Carter registered the first points of the final after receiving a penalty.
At the end of rucks, all the balloons seem to land between New Zealand hands. The Wallabies are subject to the extinguisher and you have a hand of fault to the reception back to Ben Smith’s 22, followed by a scrum collapsed by Pillar Owen Franks, to bring them oxygen. The opener Bernard Foley equalized before the first quarter of an hour.
Slick
The respite is brief. A huge physical battle is engaged with the Australian side as the broken pillar Kane Douglas and center Matt Giteau must give place. Daniel Carter is clearly targeted in the opposite camp, which did not prevent him from giving back to his advantage in the 27th minute, before continuing his faultless foot in the 36th. Despite the slaughter of third lines Michael Hooper and David Pocock, the question is how much time the Australians will be able to withstand the spill
The answer comes in the final seconds of the first period.: a splendid essay, right, winger Milner-Skudder Nehe, after a four-year pass with both Smith (Conrad and Aaron) and Richie McCaw. A 16-3 at halftime, the Mass seems called. Night falls on Twickenham and the sky darkened for Australians who are up thirteen points. Statistically, all teams that led to the half time of a final World Cup lifted the Webb Ellis trophy
Another figure is even more worrying. New Zealanders leave the field 71% of possession in their favor in the first period. The grip “kiwi” was confirmed with the restart. Sonny Bill Williams, hardly came into play, sets three opponents. After contact his pass found the arms of Ma’a Nonu. The cavalcade of three quarters center can begin: dreadlocks wind, the future center of Toulon Rugby Club, sows Aussies all parties to meet with a frame overflow, then a sprint to the in-goal line. Failed unusual enough to be emphasized, Dan Carter misses its transformation from the left side of the field.
tenuous Hope
At 21-3, the hope of recovery remains tenuous for the Wallabies. The back New Zealander Ben Smith handles restart a second time: he is sent off for ten minutes because of a criminal plating on a Drew Mitchell suddenly turned into straw. Taking advantage of a maul, the third-row David Pocock, recognizable by his blue helmet, flattened in the in-goal. Uprising in the stands: the first try of the match Australia draws from their torpor the yellow and green fans. The transformation of Bernard Foley brings men Michael Cheika eleven points of Blacks (21-10).
Australia benefits from NZ flutters back to just four points of Blacks and portend an end breathtaking game. On a mad dash, the center Tevita Kuridrani pierces the twenty-two meters of Blacks and withstands load Julian Savea to drop the ball near the poles. What help transform Foley, author of a faultless in this register.
absolute sovereignty
On the insured kick, Dan Carter brings a little serenity in the New Zealand camp, back to fifteen against fifteen: over forty meters away, the top scorer in the history of international rugby managed a healthy drop that gives momentum to score.
For his international farewell, rookie Racing 92 persists in his kicks: six minutes from the end, a long distance penalty gives his a comfortable ten-point lead (27-17). And triggers, in the stands, a salvo of “All Blacks! All Blacks! “.
The public Twickenham can exult for good, in the 79th and penultimate minute of play when Beauden Barrett, straight out of the dugout, completes the NZ ultimate test of success against: the New Zealander takes two Australians speed, pushing the ball of the foot to better flatten. The All Blacks are world champions Japan until 2019. Their sovereignty is absolute. For the second time in the space of four years, Richie McCaw was able to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.
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