[1] Tony Woodcock celebrates with teammates after scoring his try. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings The All Blacks have won their first Rugby World Cup title in 24 years after a thrilling 8-7 victory over France at Eden Park.
Replacement first-five Stephen Donald kicked the crucial penalty after 45 minutes, to give the All Blacks an 8-nil lead.
But French captain Thierry Dusatoir shocked the 63,000 strong crowd by pouncing on a Piri Weepu scrum error and scoring beside the posts.
Dusatoir was named man of the match but it was his All Blacks counterpart captain Richie McCaw who made one of the key late plays, forcing a French turnover with minutes to go, giving the All Blacks the late possession they needed.
And then they held on.
Earlier, the All Blacks led 5-0 at halftime.
Prop Tony Woodcock scored the half's only try after 15 minutes, surging through a gaping hole in the French lineout close to the try-line, after Jerome Kaino had taken the throw and handed it off.
Worringly for the All Blacks Piri Weepu missed all three of his shots at goal, missing with two penalties and a conversion.
The All Blacks also lost first-five Aaron Cruden to a knee injury after half-an-hour, forcing the much maligned Donald onto the pitch to carry the hopes of a nation.
France had lost their first-five Morgan Parra to concussion moments earlier, but his replacement Francois Trinh-Duc threatened to bring France back into the game firstly with a missed drop kick, and then a half break inside the All Blacks half.
But both forays came to nothing, the match on a knife-edge heading into the second half.
- Simon Winter
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