Anyway, Sunday, 23 October 2011 was always going to be a special day for New Zealanders after the All Blacks qualified for the Rugby World Cup Final last weekend. But there were a few good appetizers to chew on for New Zealand sporting fans.
The Silver Ferns took on Australia's Diamonds in the third of their five test series in Perth and in hindsight, probably provided the most alarming omen of things to come that night. The Ferns dominated the game only for the Diamonds to stage their typical 4th quarter comeback - led by the massive and back-to-blonde Caitlin Bassett who really should be the starting goal shoot for the Diamonds IMO - and almost steal the game right at the end. However, the Ferns' mental strength and turnovers came through in the end as they triumphed by a single point.
Then there was the Phoenix who actually kicked off half-an-hour before the RWC Final - also in that great city in the middle of nowhere. Shane Smeltz scored the solitary goal against the Phoenix - bittersweet moment for Kiwis but it still should be considered an addition to a night of Kiwi glory. Speaking of Kiwi glory in the spherical ball code, Chris Wood has continued his hot scoring streak for Birmingham City and has really caught the eye in Europe.
So to the main course - which turned out to be a bit like trying to crack open a watermelon with you bare hands.
For the first time in the Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks were not the dominant side. Once Carter had gone, the All Blacks were always going to have to win this World Cup with their world class leading pack and defence. They did but they certainly did not expect a French scrum to have parity with them which held its own and even nudged ahead at times rather than splinter like many a scrum at this World Cup.
In fact, they appeared to be playing within themselves although part of it may have been down to nerves - that certainly was in Weepu's case, the Wainuiomata man didn't impose himself on the game as he had in the last two. Part of it was certainly down to the preparation and gameplan of the French which nearly resulted in a great upset.
The battle of the breakdown appeared to have been won by the French with Thierry Dusautoir and Imanol Harinodoquy absolutely protecting French ball like they were protecting the crown jewels. McCaw and Read were frustrated but ultimately clung on and eventually affected the turnover that effectively sealed the result for the All Blacks.
So the drought is over. And it feels good. New Zealand thoroughly deserved it after all the tragedies in the last year or so, i.e. Pike River and the Christchurch earthquake.
Anyway, keep partying, sleeping in, recovering, etc. New Zealand!
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