“How sweet it is!”
It finally arrived at approximately 2245hrs, 23rd October 2011 at fortress Eden Park. Job done, mission accomplished, leading to an unbelievably huge relief of an entire nation.
As the fulltime whistle blared, the excitement from the reserves bench reverberated around the country, celebrating in a great big huddle, whereas the players on the field rejoiced, turning to a team-mate nearest to them and hugged jubilantly.
Tough guy Brad Thorn erupted in tears, while in stark contrast the placidity of the usually calm, collected Richie McCaw could only collapse in wonderment and disbelief, trying to enliven the power of miracles.
Emotions were running high, the sheer triumph in savouring an incredible moment for the history-making All Blacks led by the most powerful connection in world rugby, a modern King Henry and his right-hand man, King Richard the Lionheart.
Wild scenes of joy and elation could be felt across the world, courtesy of, indeed, the stadium of four million.
So where do we begin? Besides the brilliant stand-off during the awesome Kapa O Pango, France should be commended for putting up a great fight to leave more than a night to remember.
The media were virtually on their backs all week leading to a rare rugby grand finale on any given Sunday, treating the French with massive contempt and expecting the All Blacks to just turn up with their headphones.
The All Blacks came out firing but it was immediately a deadly battle of war of attrition when both packs would barely give an inch.
The backlines hardly needed any revving up with tight defence the order of the day and most of the action going full-on in the ruck collisions, starved of attacking ball like flash cars sitting idly in the garage.
Dangerous players Cory Jane and Israel Dagg were kept in check, with Ma’a Nonu and Richard Kahui occasioning actual bodily harm with their countless thrusts.
Kieran Read was in ominous form, although Jerome Kaino will admit that it wasn’t one of his best games.
Piri Weepu must have believed the papers and t-shirt prints to the point where he cheekily decided to play with good ol’ Ronald MacDonald’s boots, hence missing crucial kicks he’d usually slot over.
Not to mention a lazy suicidal flick of the ball from the big-toe boot into the gleeful hands of Maxime Mermoz, resulting to his captain Thierry Dusautoir’s try against the run of play.
Credit where it’s due though, and France deserves to be applauded for the way they came out with the right attitude. Aurelien Rougerie at centre was also a handful, while veteran No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy certainly showed his vast experience in the trenches.
Although yours truly felt a bit of travesty when Dusautoir was voted as man-of-the-match.
McCaw could not have done any more than what he had contributed in this game, a phenomenal effort considering his ongoing foot problems, let alone the lack of fitness training.
Yet he was everywhere, scraping up the mess and typically made his usual presence felt at just about every ruck. Need I remind you that he was battered right from the word go.
The inspirational All Blacks skipper was also extraordinary during the semi-final against Australia the week before, when the master taught his students the art of perfecting the breakdown.
It was only befitting for the winning captain of the winning team to be recognised accordingly for his magnificent performances. There is not enough superlatives to describe the true mark of the man.
To understand the value of Richie McCaw’s contribution, he may not have wanted a bar of it but it would’ve been a nice gesture had the Franks brothers lifted their captain onto their burly shoulders.
Or perhaps fellow loose forwards Read and Kaino for a bit more height, and briefly parade him to the appreciative crowd.
Especially how he had done everything in his power to achieve a successful campaign since the humiliation of the 2007 tournament.
Great names and hall of famers that they are, Dave Gallaher, Wilson Whineray, George Nepia, Fred Allen, Graham Mourie, Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Jones, Jonah Lomu, Sir Brian Lochore and the legend himself, Sir Colin Meads.
But Richie McCaw is all alone as the heir to the throne.
As far as I’m concerned – and despite the enormous talent of Daniel Carter – not only is McCaw the best All Blacks player ever, but the all-time greatest rugby player in history.
While continuing an exemplary career that is still going strong, the team harmony epitomises the reflection of the quality of McCaw’s temperament.
He typifies the importance of representing his country without a hint of arrogance, self-satisfaction, egotism, smugness and conceit, yet take extreme pride with his passionate actions on the field that his team-mates can only be privileged and honoured enough to follow.
That alone, is a true definition of an ultimate warrior.
To personify and illustrate his game with unparalleled accomplishments that probably will not be witnessed again for a very long time.
Take a bow Sir Richard Hugh McCaw.
PS: Congratulations to Martin Snedden and the NZRU for organising a wonderful Rugby World Cup. Well done. Many ex-pats would’ve been very proud and ecstatic to have been watching from abroad. Fantastic.
Sitting right here in the heart of Sydney, Australia, boy I can tell you it is great to be a New Zealander. Once were Kiwis, always will be.
Gaullois
Guest
2 minutes of Ref was more honest, ouf, on 80 minutes when the ref. was for the ABs. And you think it's 50/50 about ref ? You're crazy
Llew
Guest
Don't feed the troll
Llew
Guest
Yeah OK Gaullois, whatever
MSmith
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOVlXr0pS_w Don't forget this !
MSmith
Guest
Brian O'Driscoll David Kirk John Kirwan Gavin Hastings Someone mentioned John Eales earlier...
Gaullois
Guest
Oh Hypocrite everytime. Play 3 and win 1. For us in our heart we win and the rest of the world say it also. But you read only NZ press or NZ comments, so you don't want see the true. Cheat and not honnor. McCaw is a cheat and all countries say it, not only for this finale but everytime. Lomu was a great player, he has changed the rugby. As Blanco done it before. The next test match, I hope, will be a fight ,not for the victory we don't care, but to learn to ABs what is the honnor. And here you could writte that the French are bullies. It will true for one time.
Jerry
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzSpw14gfiM&feature=player_embedded You can watch it in real time here - I honestly don't see how anyone could think McCaw is able to hit Dusatoir like he is while making sure to hit Parra with both a 'fist' and a knee.
Gaullois
Guest
And for Parra, you don't see the video on yourtube. Parra Vs McCaw. See the pucnh before the knee... Not honnor McCaw
Gaullois
Guest
No, it's not true. The arbitror let to play the ABs only. Here in Toulouse we love Rugby and it's not a problem when an other team wins against us but when is true. I think that the Abs (this team) has not honnor, Mccaw have done faults evrytime, brutality on Parra (see the video and you can see the punch). And now he asks to IRB sanction for Rougerie (exclude during 4 or 5 months). No it is a nightmare, the world upside down. In addition it is normal the fine, it is certain that these ABs have pissed in their pants. A little bit of dignity, does justify not this hold-up in you bring on the French who were of gentlemen.
Aaron
Guest
Mate, I am sick of people who have only watched the game once saying that France were the better team in the final. Please watch it again. The Ab's dominated in the first half and looked very threatning. If Piri had kicked the goals, they woul;d have won by a larger margin imo. In the second half, France had more possesion from minutes 50-76. They did not do anything with that possesion and the Ab's defended like demons and never really looked like letting a try in. More possesion does not mean dominance or being the better team. As for the ref, again it's easy to read the biased reports against the AB's from the NH and Aussie fans and press who are so itense in their hatred and jealousy of the AB's. There were numerous obstructions and offsides from the French team that were missed by Joubert which has not been reported and I thought Joubert was fair to both teams. Watch just two minutes of the game and you will change your mind- minutes 41-43, where there were three infringements made by the French at the ruck which was missed by the ref.
Louis
Guest
Most people in France would have rather had Trinh-Duc start with Morgan Parra at halfback. The thing that made me and I assume other French supporters angry was that Parra is our first choice goal Kicker and in the tournament had missed just one attempt at goal. Sunday was the first time I have ever seen Trinh-Duc kick for goal at International level (he does not even kick for Montpellier) hence the frustration of our supporters because we missed 2 second half penalties, that Morgan Parra we have kicked. As for supposed eye gouge, It may have been an accident it may have been on purpose, but because it was French everyone thinks it must be on Purpose. And as I said its not the All Blacks fault that we get fined, but Ali Williams does it every game and nothing happens.
katzilla
Roar Guru
'And eye gouged in 2' And Buck sent out a pregame warning too, we should have known.......
katzilla
Roar Guru
Haha, keep it coming Gaullois. Its nice to be the best and soak up all the jealousy :D
mactheblack
Guest
I agree Serge Blanco, Phillipe Sella, Jean-Pierre, Abdelatif Benazzi etc ... great players ... loved watching them especially Blanco in his prime... but ABs Roarers kiss the "frog" ... he may yet turn into a peace-loving, gracious Prince.
Llew
Guest
Agree that McCaw should have acknowledged the French afterwards, and to be fair to him, that is something that he usually does after a tough game (and has done in the days since). I have heard from several close to the NZ camp that there is a touch of regret that not enough was said and not enough contact between the teams was made, but given that the after-match speech was about 5 minutes after Rougerie had been trying to pull one of his eyes out, I think one could be a little more understanding to McCaw.
Jerry
Guest
No, it's cause when Parra was hurt the lineout was 35 metres downfield and when Cruden got hurt a scrum was gonna be set about 3 metres away. But don't get pesky things like facts get in the way of your righteous butthurt. Oh, and 0 - 3 is your record in finals. Played 3, lost 3. And eye gouged in 2.
Llew
Guest
Gaullois - you are becoming a conspiracy theorist. Take a few deep breaths, calm down, and try and get a more balanced view. France played their part in an immense game where both teams defended like men possessed, the breakdowns were competed fiercely with plenty of blood and injuries, the referee let both teams get away with plenty of infringing and let the game flow, and neither team could force many try-scoring opportunities. Oh, and one of the French players resorted to gouging in his frustration. Dusattoir though is all class.
Llew
Guest
Gaullois I am being honest. I'm a neutral. I do not see any deliberate punch on Parra and yes I've watched the video several times. It looks very much like the biggest knock he gets is from Nonu, and then, yes, he undoubtedly gets collected by McCaw on the way through, but clearly McCaw is going for the ball. If you think thats foul play, then you must believe that anytime anyone gets hurt in a collision it must be foul play, because, by definition, the players are trying to collide and there must be intent to hurt. So, why don't YOU be honest Gaullois, and tell me, with s straight face, what you thought of the footage of Rougerie gouging? - watched it? If you watch that, honestly, without any emotion or bias, and can defend it, then you and I will just have to agree to disagree. Personally, I think its one of the most disgraceful acts I've ever seen on a rugby field, up there with Richard Loe, and Rougerie should be banned for a lengthy spell. And absolutely, due respect to Jo Maso for not making a big thing of the jersey colour - Maso is truly a respected legend of the game.
Gaullois
Guest
See the comment of this video please. Mc caw cheat everytime in this match. You are so stupid. McCaw is not a victim it's the cheat man.
Gaullois
Guest
0-3 ? What ? And Arbitror give the ball to the black because Parra was treated. But when an AB playerr has hurt his knee, then he accepts that ABs halt the game and leaves the ball in the ABs. But that's normal for you! Ok NZ are honest, is not it?