With what seemed impossible for a time, in 2015, the All Blacks achieved just that: the impossible. They were able to capture their second consecutive World Cup title, which had never been done before.
Rewind back to 2011, the All Blacks had been on a 24-year drought, where they had not won a cup since 1987. In 1991, they fell short and ended up with a third-position finish. In 1995, the infamous ‘stomach bug’ rocked the All Blacks in the lead-up to the final, thus going down to the South Africans in the final.
In 1999, they were famously upset by a French side that were never meant to tie their shoe laces, and did not even place in the top three, losing to South Africa in the third and fourth match.
In 2003, they were upset by the Wallabies in the semi-final stages, led by a famous Stirling Mortlock intercept, which sealed the game for their Australian foes, leaving them with a bronze finish.
In 2007, the cup that was meant to be the difference, again they were shocked and surprised by none other than France again, giving them their earliest finish, being knocked out in the first round of knock-out.
All their dominance in between World Cup years faltered to the fact they could not get it done when it mattered. Enter 2011.
Richie McCaw lifts the 2011 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Leading into the cup, which happened to be in New Zealand, they were heavy favourites. Everything was swinging their way: form, home-field advantage and the roster they possessed.
Barring a huge injury to their best playmaker Dan Carter mid World Cup, they managed to play their way to a final, in which they had started their third-string five-eighth in Aaron Cruden, and ended up the game with fourth-string five-eighth Stephen Donald kicking the winning penalty.
The team played a very forward dominant game, with the final coming down to the trenches, and captain Richie McCaw finally getting what he worked so hard for: the Webb Ellis trophy.
What did 2011 do?
It erased the drought that New Zealand were going through without World Cup victories. It erased a lot of pressure on the coaching panel who after 2007 were given another chance for redemption in 2011. It showed that potentially, the chokers tag on the big stage was erased for the time being.
Fast forward to 2015. The All Blacks under new head coach Steve Hansen are on a complete roll. The years between 2011 and 2015 were so dominant, the All Blacks had almost more pressure on them to prove their dominance in the years between on the stage where it mattered.
The best thing for their defence was it started with a strong foe, in Argentina, who showed them back-to-back was not going to be an easy feat and pushed them to their core.
After cruising to three easy victories over Namibia, Georgia and Tonga, some thought the easy run would undo the men in black.
Their next opponent, in the knock-out stage, was none other than the French. The All Blacks erased any doubt and produced their match of the tournament and completely destroyed the French, leading them to a big semi-final against the Springboks.
(Phil Walter/Getty Images)
As tight a game as you can get, the All Blacks punched a ticket to the final to play their arch nemesis, Australia. After beating Australia convincingly, the All Blacks had achieved a famed back-to-back World Cup feat.
What did 2015 prove?
That 2011 was no fluke. That they had progressed and not regressed and were definitely a force to be reckoned with. They broke the hoodoo of no country winning back-to-back titles and they looked as sharp and as strong as ever.
So my question to the crowd is, which World Cup in your opinion was the more significant?
For many reasons, either of them could be your vote.
In 2011, breaking the drought and erasing the chokers tag.
In 2015, being the first team to go back-to-back and proving that 2011 was indeed no fluke.
Both sides played completely different, albeit a lot of the players played in both sides. The 2011 team were a forward-based side, in which they played a tough and gritty style of rugby.
In 2015, they played a lot more expansively under Hansen, where forwards ball-played like backs and hookers were on the wing scoring tries.
For my own personal opinion, I will choose the back-to-back win of 2015 as the more significant, as I think it showed dominance and no more questions needed to be asked of the men in black.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below, Roarers.
Willie La'ulu
Roar Guru
I'll probably stick to writing about the 2/3 World Cup's we have... enjoy your 2 :silly:
Eltski
Guest
2015 for sure. 2011 they were not convincing at all. It felt they stumbled to their win and only won a final because they faced rubbish opposition there. Add to that South Africa were dominant and were effectively reffed out of their quarter-final and you're left with question - were they deserved? 2015 was different. It was not played at home and there were no questions about opposition being ejected unfairly. Yes the Scots were unfairly treated in their quarter-final but were never contenders. 2015 proved they could win away from home and they knocked quality opposition out of their way to get there. I would argue the 2015 vintage is the best AB team we haver seen or will see for a long time.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
2015 was a re-run of Aus-NZ duels during the period - stepped on the gas and burned us, as expected. 2011 however was a much different beast. Hairs standing up on the back of the neck as the French really took it to them from the haka. To lose would have almost too much to bear, especially to France and in Auckland. Gritty, backs to the wall win with a smattering of luck.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
Well you did take time out to write this clickbait so it's only out of respect people comment on it's purpose. Looking forward to your article "Which Wallabies World Cup was more significant: 1991 or 1999?" or perhaps you could do an expose on the ABs "The All Blacks: How good are we?" or perhaps "NZ: the times we bombed, which hurt you the most". :silly:
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Perhaps... But those cars mate! Each one an icon I coveted as a young man...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
I still think the Bledisloe at Athletic Park in 1996 was the best display of wet-weather rugby I have ever seen. The All Blacks beat a very good Wallaby side that day and the handling and structure was just superb. If you haven't seen it youtube it. Worth the watch...
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
the1 987 semi final between France and Australia was a great game and the 2011 world cup meant more to us down to our 4th number 10 and our captain playing with an injured foot
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Not just a set up... they in fact did make a movie "The Kick", I've only seen the trailer, having had watched enough B grade movie as a kid, I'll not watch this one. Yeah it was special, didn't quench the thirst but it was a lovely drink.
piru
Roar Rookie
2011 was more of an epic movie setup. The staunch captain playing on a broken foot, his superstar right hand man going down injured, the out of favour hero coming back from obscurity just when we needed him. God I remember when Cruden went down, actually thinking we had offended the universe or something.
Lara
Guest
2011…..pressure , lots n lots of pressure. If the ABs had lost in that RWC at anytime during that tournament, NZ would have gone to the Dark side. The fact that they did it with injury , after injury n a captain on one foot is now legendary among the tales of the Men in Black. The 2015 RWC was pure icing….a decade of dominance, records broken n saluting a bunch of retiring greats. Love them or hate them, the ABs have achieved a level no nation has matched to date.
Willie La'ulu
Roar Guru
Yet you take the time out to comment :laughing:
Faith
Roar Rookie
Really different RWC 2wins but 2015 will always be the one. ABs with a forward oriented game - feels like eons ago. How I wish we could go back to that now - start from basics …
Double Agent
Guest
Yeah I spose. Coulda been better to be honest.
Harry Jones
Expert
There was a kickable penalty given to SA, then reversed for a weak neck roll. Very close, but deserved win.
Harry Jones
Expert
The semifinal was a wee bit close. Penalty (kickable for SA) reversal … and no AB points in the last 20:00. Great team that. Almost no flaws.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Your doing well mate with Claudia and Elle.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
when was the last time you watched 2011 final? I'm sure, at the time I was relieved as every other staunch ABs supporter. I've watched it again a couple of times recently and feel Dusatoir and his mates were robbed. So 2015, being beyond conjecture, for me was more satisfying.
Tom
Guest
Was their nervous night close enough when Cruden went down to see beaver warming up. Local counties boy who didn't take Hansen's call as he was down at the elbow whitebaiting looked as though he had been eating more than his share as well. Saw the gap open up for woodcock and just a relief at the end. Bit emotional as my father passed away couple weeks before and I had bought the tickets for my parents ended up flying back over and going with my mum. 2011 for me.
Double Agent
Guest
Which WC win was more significant? I dunno. Sounds a bit self indulgent? I can feel myself pulling the same face as my mate when I speculate whether my Torana XU1 or my GTHO or my RT Charger was my best car. I can feel my eyes rolling like my wife's when I wonder if my week of debauchery with Claudia S was as good as the week spent with Elle in her London penthouse. Oh well. Youve either got it or you don't. A William Webb Ellis that is! :silly:
piru
Roar Rookie
2011 It's hard to explain to non kiwis I'm sure, but we had been top of the world for so long, but could never get it together for the rwc. The chokers tag was seemingly unshakeable and it was starting to feel like we'd never win another (while aussie had 2). On top of that it being in nz added another level of pressure - then the final being against France who had cruelled our chances so many times before... The weight on the team and the country was enormous. 2015 was great, but I never felt like it was in doubt