Nous mourons à nos pieds, et non pas sur nos genouxA fitting end to a good if somewhat unspectacular Rugby World Cup. New Zealand finally climbed their Everest again after a long and hard 24 years of blood, sweat, toil and tears whilst France regained pride and respect that the talent in their team deserved.
It might not have been an all out classic spectacle where both sides threw the ball about at will, but it sure was a compelling encounter where both sets of forwards were equally unwilling to give an inch to their opposition.
Much has been made of Richie McCaw's heroics throughout this world cup and rightly so, but Thierry Dusautoir was simply immense for France. If he wasn't scoring tries he was introducing himself to every All Black on the pitch with bone shuddering tackles and making a complete nuisance of himself at the breakdown a la the 2007 quarter final.
Fortunately for Dusautoir and France, the cavalry arrived too for probably only the second time in the tournament. Harinordoquy again was hugely powerful, particularly in the 2nd half, and was ably assisted by the industrious Bonnaire and the tireless Lionel Nallet. France also caused problems for New Zealand at the set piece and perhaps could have shown a bit more patience with their last scrum to try and earn a penalty as the NZ scrum was beginning to retreat.
Outside them the introduction of Francois Trinh-Duc, for the brave if unfortunate Morgan Parra, gave the French a more direct running option and caused New Zealand problems on more than one occasion. Indeed it was he who intercepted Piri Weepu's fly hack which led to France's solitary try.
However, having said all that, credit must be given to the All Blacks. They brought a savage intensity to the game in the first half aided with a nicely worked try from a lineout through prop Tony Woodcock and were it not only for some brave French defence and the errant boot of Piri Weepu they could well have been out of sight. Clearly the boot of Dan Carter was being sorely missed. As the second half progressed the All Blacks were also crying out for his calming influence too.
Though at times it looked like the team as a collective unit were having a nervous breakdown in the second half allowing France back into the game, including two awful kicks from Weepu and a speculative flick by the try scorer Tony Woodcock, New Zealand's defence was truly stoic with Jerome Kaino, McCaw and also outside centre Conrad Smith to the fore, making some seismic hits in the process.
Indeed New Zealand probably just shaded the contest in what was an epic affair that was played in a hard and manly but fair manner. Undoubtedly the French players will take no solace in a one point loss to the All Blacks away from home but they can return back to France with their heads held high.
Immortality in a rugby mad country is what awaits the victors however and realistically it is a good thing that New Zealand won this world cup.The talents of Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Keven Mealamu alongside the mesmeric Dan Carter, and ageless Mils Muiliana, who both were unfortunate to miss out through injury, deserved to be rewarded for their performances over the last decade and whilst some would make a mockery of their constant shortcomings at world cups, rugby needs New Zealand to win the odd one.
They always successfully promote a skilful, stylish brand of rugby whilst embracing a ruthless efficiency and intensity to win. Certainly they are to rugby what Kerry is to Gaelic Football, Killkenny to hurling and Brazil to soccer. And what's more, I don't think they'll have to wait another 24 years for their third Webb Ellis trophy.
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