 | |||||||
| Event | 2011 Rugby World Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 23 October 2011 | ||||||
| Venue | Eden Park, Auckland | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Thierry Dusautoir (France) | ||||||
| Referee | Craig Joubert (South Africa)[1] | ||||||
| Attendance | 61,079 | ||||||
The 2011 Rugby World Cup Final was a rugby union match between France and New Zealand, to determine the winner of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The match took place on 23 October 2011 at Eden Park, in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand won the match 8–7, the smallest margin by which any Rugby World Cup final has been decided.[a]
New Zealand were favourites, as they went into the final unbeaten and the French had lost two pool games, including one to New Zealand.[2] The French team also experienced a player revolt against their coach Marc Lièvremont, confirmed after the tournament by veteran back-rower Imanol Harinordoquy.[3] The match was a close-fought and tight contest with few line-breaks. Each side scored one try and the outcome was determined by kicks – the All Blacks kicked a penalty goal while the French managed only the conversion of their try. The result was the lowest score of any World Cup final.
The match echoed the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final which was also held at Eden Park between the same teams. As in the 2007 final, both teams had progressed from the same pool.
New Zealand's victory marked the first time that a nation had held both the men's World Cup and Women's Rugby World Cup, as the Black Ferns had won the 2010 tournament.
- ^ "Craig Joubert to referee New Zealand v France final ahead of Alain Rolland". The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "New Zealand an overwhelming favorite to win Rugby World Cup". The Washington Post. October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Harinordoquy admits to French uprising". ESPN Scrum. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
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