So the two finalists are the same as they were at the inaugural tournament; which was also the last time it was held in New Zealand. This time round only one of the finalists really deserves to be there.
Deserving is a tough concept to justify in sport. At the end of the day, the results are all that counts, and by that measure New Zealand and France are worthy finalists.
However, in this age of mass consumption, millions of fans around the world have been robbed of the final that they deserved, namely New Zealand vs France.
The French are frauds who have lucked their way through to this stage. 11 points (the amount France accumulated) was not enough to progress into the knock out stages from any group except their own. In the quarter finals they produced 30 minutes of reasonable rugby, which was plenty to see off an abject England side.
In the semi finals they scraped past a Welsh side who toiled for 75 percent of the game with only 14 men. In the final, who knows; they may turn on the style and give the All Blacks a run for their money. I suspect, however, that the opposite will occur and we will see the most one sided final to date.
The major talking point of the first quarter final has deservedly been the sending off of the Welsh skipper Sam Warburton. In a rare twist I actually feel sorry for referee Rolland in this case. He did what the law book told him to do.
Unfortunately for all concerned, and that includes the millions of neutrals tuned in to watch an exhibition of rugby, it ruined the contest. Warburton himself must take a portion of the blame.
He knows the rules and in the biggest game of his life he should not have taken the risk. As soon as you lift a player up you are playing with fire, and he lifted Clerc far higher than necessary to make the big “statement” hit that he was looking for.
Once he realised the problem, he stopped himself and brought Clerc down safely. Perhaps this action should have reduced his punishment to a yellow card. Perhaps not.
For the 65 minutes the game lasted after the red card, the 14 men in red were magnificent. Just some nervy goal kicking, from Stephen Jones of all people, cost them a place in the final. Little has been made of the absence of Rhys Priestland in this game, but from what we saw in the earlier games he would have provided the assured touches that the Welsh needed.
James Hook was very shaky and Stephen Jones, despite his experience, looked short of match practice and seemed to panic late on (namely the left footed drop goal attempt).
Although this must be scant consolation to them now, the core of this side will still be around in 2015, when you have to imagine they will be among the favourites.
The French spent the full 80 minutes trying as hard as possible not to lose. At no stage did they look like they were taking the risks that are usually required to win. They had dominance at scrum time, once Adam Jones had limped off. They were the kings of the lineout.
With the set piece so much in their favour, they could have spun the ball around and taken advantage of the missing Welsh man. They did not. Even after 78 minutes when heroes like Faletau and Roberts could summon no more energy, not a soupcon of flair from our Gallic friends.
A very different game followed on Sunday night. New Zealand produced the kind of display worthy of champions. They had every excuse to crumble; a third choice No. 10, a hobbled captain a goal kicker having an off day. On this day, however, they were magnificent.
Identifying the Wallaby frailty under the high ball from the quarter final they peppered them all day long with positive results almost every time. On one occasion the ball bounced in open play with at least five Wallabies within catching range. School boys have been made to run laps since time began for that sort of mistake. Coach Deans should have his charges out there still for allowing it to happen in a quarter-final.
Up front McCaw had the kind of game that I thought was only in his past. He owned the breakdown, having realised that the referee was more attuned to what his opposite number was doing; his defence was powerful, decision making and link play astute. It was the kind of performance that great players put in, when required. He was more that ably supported by Read, Mealamu and Thorn most notably.
Behind the scrum Weepu was not as dominant as he was the previous week, but it mattered little. Cruden played well, the centre pairing were dangerous and in Dagg and Jane they had the two players who made this game. In the first 15 minutes Dagg showed why Graham Henry installed him as his first choice full back at the start of the tournament.
Breaking tackles, running wicked angles, taking all that was thrown at him and returning it with interest. Jane, man of the match on the day, showed the benefit of being a full back by trade, but playing on the wing. Countless times the likes of Genia launched bombs on to his wing, each and every time he dealt with them with aplomb, often launching counter attacks from the ensuing possession. Going forward he was equally dangerous. What a performance.
The Wallabies played their part. They were brave, with Elsom exemplary. However with Quade Cooper off his game, again, Pocock subdued at the breakdown by both the opposition and the referee (although a personal highlight for me was his complaint to referee Joubert that the All Blacks were “acting like pork chops”), and a naive kicking game they had little chance to match their trans-Tasman rivals.
Like the Welsh they must take heart from knowing that many of the side will be peaking in 2015 (assuming they don’t lose them all to AFL, NRL or Europe).
I truly hope the final isn’t a damp squib, weather wise or on the field, however I really can’t see anything other than a crushing All Black victory.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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