The team that had made no concession to the pragmatism of a knockout tournament finally succumbed and the New Zealand All Blacks staggered, mauling, tackling and grinding, to their first victory at the World Cup since 1987. They did it the ugly way, but they won.
France, misunderstood, incomprehensible, were magnificent, dominating the second half, forcing the All Blacks to dig into the deepest reserves of their rugby obsession. They had a chance to win it, but François Trinh-Duc, a key player in their campaign of chaos, missed with a long penalty attempt with 17 minutes to go.
All suspicions of a one-sided embarrassment vanished in the opening period. France played with an adventure verging on abandon, wonderment at their transformation only tempered by the clout to the head of Morgan Parra from the knee of Richie McCaw. The makeshift – for the purposes of this World Cup – fly-half gave way to Trinh-Duc, and while he was away New Zealand scored from a lineout, Jerome Kaino winning at the tail and dropping the ball back inside, on a pre-planned move, to the prop Tony Woodcock.
It was a cruel tale of those that seized the day and those that failed. Piri Weepu, who had held the All Blacks together after the injury to Dan Carter, left the field a sorry figure, way off target with his kicking and the perpetrator of the mistake that turned the second half France's way. The scrum-half's careless little kick off the floor presented Trinh-Duc with a free gift and half a minute later the utterly brilliant Thierry Dusautoir was crossing for France's try.
New Zealand did not only have a problem at scrum-half, but at No10 too. Aaron Cruden, the stand-in for the stand-in for Dan Carter, went off with an injured knee and Stephen Donald, the last outside-half standing in the host nation, came on … and kicked the penalty that gave the All Blacks the one-point advantage that saved their day.
It was a extraordinary match, New Zealand the devotees of attack, forced to defend for all their worth. This was a victory built on desperation, the forwards working on zero possession but inspired by the spirit of a nation that willed them to win. France lost, but how much they regained in dignity and courage.
France remain without a world title from three finals. New Zealand have won their second title in their third final, by the skin of their teeth. Ugly tournament rugby won the day; New Zealand won the final. It was all that counted.
France: Médard, Clerc (Traille, 45), Rougerie, Mermoz, Palisson; Parra (Trinh-Duc, 22), Yachvili (Doussain, 75); Poux (Barcella, 65), Servat (Szarzewski, 64), Mas, Papé (Pierre, 69), Nallet, Dusautoir (capt), Harinordoquy.
Try Dusautoir Con Trinh-Duc.
New Zealand: Dagg, Jane, Smith, Nonu (SB Williams 75), Kahui; Cruden (Donald, 33), Weepu (Ellis, 48); Woodcock, Mealamu (Hore, 48), O Franks, Thorn, Whitelock (A Williams, 48), Kaino, McCaw (capt), Read.
Try Woodcock Pen Donald.
Referee: C Joubert (South Africa).
