[1] 
[1] 
[1] 
[1] 
[1] 
[1] 
The All Blacks take on France in the World Cup final in Auckland on Sunday night. Here's how they got there.
Game one
New Zealand 41, Tonga 10
The All Blacks began their 2011 World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 41-10 win over Tonga at a packed-out Eden Park on the opening night of the tournament.
Israel Dagg scored a brace of tries in the first half as Graham Henry's side overwhelmed the Tongans in the first 40 minutes. Sonny Bill Williams, who featured at second five-eighths, proved the catalyst for New Zealand's best attacking play and it was one of his trademark offloads that put Waikato utility back Richard Kahui in for the first of his two tries.
Tonga were a different team after the break and, despite touchdowns from Jerome Kaino and Ma'a Nonu, the Pacific Islanders had the final say with a close-range try from replacement prop Alisona Taumalolo.
Game two
New Zealand 83 Japan 7
New Zealand warmed up for their crunch match with France with a thumping win over a weakened Japan side in Hamilton. Richard Kahui scored two tries in front of his home crowd while Conrad Smith, Jerome Kaino, Keven Mealamu, Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Ma'a Nonu and Andrew Hore all got in on the action in the 13-try rout. Sonny Bill Williams made a second-half cameo on the wing and proved a handful for the Brave Blossoms crossing the whitewash twice.
The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Japan winger Hirotoki Onozawa, who crossed in the 58th minute after intercepting a Colin Slade pass.
Game three
New Zealand 37 France 17
New Zealand made a massive statement after dismantling France at Eden Park. On the night skipper Richie McCaw became an All Black test centurion, the home side recovered from a poor start with No 8 Adam Thomson strolling in at the corner for his side's first try.
Cory Jane cut a sumptuous line off a New Zealand lineout to glide over unopposed before Dan Carter cut the French rearguard to ribbons to send Israel Dagg under the sticks. Dagg crossed again after the break while Sonny Bill Williams touched down in the right corner to complete the victory.
Maxime Mermoz and Francois Trinh-Duc replied for France, but their scores were futile on a night that belonged to the men in black.
Game four
New Zealand 79 Canada 15
This match will not be remembered for what happened in 80 minutes of rugby but what happened a day earlier when first five-eighths Dan Carter was ruled out of the tournament due to a groin injury. As the nation was in mourning, the All Blacks rounded off their Pool A campaign a thumping victory over Canada in Wellington.
They were in unmerciful form, scoring a dozen tries with Crusaders wing Zac Guildford touching down four times. Jerome Kaino and Victor Vito both grabbed braces as New Zealand claimed their fourth four-try bonus point in as many games.
New Zealand's scrum continued to impress with Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock completing a demolition job on the Canadian pack.
Quarterfinal
New Zealand 33 Argentina 10
New Zealand were pushed all the way by a determined and organised Argentina outfit in their quarterfinal match in Auckland.
Halfback Piri Weepu stepped up in the absence of both Carter and then Colin Slade, who limped off with a groin injury, and contributed 21 points with the boot to steer the All Blacks home on a night when space on the pitch was at a premium.
Pumas blindside Julio Farias Cabello powered his way over in the left corner to leave the home side reeling after a sweeping Argentina attack that began 50m up the pitch.
New Zealand refused to panic and, led by the nerveless Weepu, broke the deadlock in the 67th minute with No 8 Kieran Read crossing the Pumas' line. Veteran lock Brad Thorn skated down the right touchline to wrap up the victory late on in the test.
Semifinal
New Zealand saved their best performance for the last four showdown with Robbie Deans' Australian side at a heaving Eden Park. On only his second full international start in an All Blacks jersey, Aaron Cruden was impressive in the No 10 shirt.
Israel Dagg lit up Auckland with his silky running game and it was off a trademark burst from the Hawke's Bay flyer that led to New Zealand's first and only try of the contest. Dagg palmed off Rocky Elsom's challenge before delivering a fantastic offload to the onrushing Ma'a Nonu.
Piri Weepu kept the scoreboard ticking over with four penalties while Cruden chipped in with a sweetly stuck drop goal to keep his side in the ascendancy.
Quade Cooper, who endured a torrid night, landed a drop goal and James O'Connor booted over a penalty as the Wallabies struggled to cope with the All Blacks' intensity.
No comments:
Post a Comment