Best of RWC #19 - 2015 Final
2015 The Final
My recollection of this match was it was kind of nearly comfortable, which doesn’t fully account for the drama of the Australian comeback late in this game.
The build-up doesn’t stick in my mind like the screaming agonised panic leading into 2011. Which is a good thing.
Sure there was nervousness but also the quiet confidence of the All Black fan.
What follows is, as always, 100% correct, unless the facts are wrong.
New Zealand 34 – Australia 17
Kicking off in bright sunshine in front of the iconic Twickenham stadium packed to the gunwales the start of the match was, for me at least, reminiscent of the 1995 Final. That had me a little nervous for a start.
But the All Blacks started with an intensity, almost a desperation, smashing into the Aussies like their lives depended on it. Not just the usual suspects like the loose-forwards but some not so well known for their front on hits, like Conrad Smith, were belting their opponents backwards.
An early attacking scrum opportunity was kind of wasted with an attacking kick that fell for the Aussies. I hate kicking on attack.
The AB's early dominance and small lead courtesy of three points from Dan Carter was cancelled when the Wallabies eventually got into NZ territory and Bernard Foley evened the score.
The majority of the first half is a bit of a blur until late on when Smith (Aaron), Smith (Conrad) and McCaw zigged and zagged their running lines, holding up the Aussie defence sufficiently to give the find of 2015, Nehe Milner-Skudder, just enough room to scoot over.
NMS, as he is more easily referred to, was a bolter to the All Blacks squad, demanding a place on the back of an irrepressible Super Rugby season and a blockbusting two-try debut in the Sydney Bledisloe. He joined an impressive list of rookies, who over the years had forced their way into World Cup squads just through sheer weight of form. Names like Michael Jones, Zinzan Brooke, Andrew Mehrtens, Glen Osbourne and Josh Kronfeld making their debuts in a World Cup year. Unfortunately post World Cup NMS was to suffer a series of long-term injuries from which he never recovered his balance, speed and agility which made him so dangerous. He will however forever be an All Black hero for his deeds in 2015.There was typical whinging about an earlier decision, or perhaps non-decision, by referee Nigel Owens when he allowed a 50-50 pass by Jerome Kaino, not long after which Carter added a further three points. According to some anti All Black conspiracists a potential forward pass is of course far more heinous a crime than the series of high and late hits perpetrated by Sekope Kepu.
Kane Douglas's busted knee and Matt Giteau's concussion also dealt blows to the Wallabies chances.
16-3 at the break became 21-3 soon after when replacement, the hugely controversial Sonny-Bill Williams (or SBW, another with a three initial abbreviation) produced two “offloads” (passes in the tackle) in a single phase, the second finding Ma'a Nonu to put him behind the defensive line with enough clear space to the goal line that he went, boy, yes boy, to dot for five.
At that point the match was decided and all us All Black fans could sit back and watch the procession, huh? Nuh. This when you DON'T expect the world's most level-headed rugby player to dice with the rules ...
A moment of ever so slight over-exertion by Ben Smith (dubbed Ben From Accounts by a group of NZ comedians, and Leigh Hart, for his unassuming appearance and demeanour) tipped the game on its head, as Smith did the same to Drew Mitchell.
Smith saw yellow (an argument could have been made for something more, but thankfully wasn’t) and Aus saw their chance. They immediately kicked for the corner and it was jazz hands all round in raucous celebration as David Pocock scored from the resultant lineout drive.
The All Blacks attempted to shut down the remainder of the ten-minute spell with one man down. They generally did this well, even threatening to score down the right-hand side as SBW found space.
But Aus escaped, their tactical kicking working to great effect to run NMS from one side of Twickers to the other, as he covered wing and fullback, eventually running him out of juice, and just as Smith's time ticked over ten minutes Milner-Skudder's weary clearing kick missed touch.
Still defending without a fullback the ABs were vulnerable to Foley's box kick, which landed in no-man's land, allowing Tevita Kuridrani to steam to the line to close up the match to 21-17.
A meagre four-point gap was hardly believable given how comfortable we were only minutes before.
But cometh the hour, cometh the legend.
Dan Carter, dubbed “The Perfect Ten” for his performance in the Second Lions test of 2005, had been an All Black since 2003, and had suffered through “The Journey” as a youngster, been injured during the 2007 quarter-final disaster, and suffered another a devastating injury during 2011 pool play, and was threatening to be the greatest player ever not to win a Rugby World Cup (or at least an RWC Final … at least in the conversation with Jonah).
And just as New Zealand needed it DC delivered. He decided to take the 2015 Final by the scruff of its neck and refuse to lose it. His reaction to a touch finder on 67 minutes indicative of his determination to win this match.
His 41m droppie is up there with the greatest moments in All Black history, comparable to Peter Jones’s try in 1956, Hewie’s 1981 penalty, and Woody’s 2011 “Tea Bag”.
Only a matter of minutes later Carter was at it again. NZ won a scrum penalty on halfway and DC was given the job to put the ABs ten points in front, as Rod Kafer declared on the Aussie commentary “Dan Carter will kick this. He is just that kind of player".
He duly obliged.
Less than ten to go and more than a converted try ahead. Those butterflies were settling back down. They were still fluttering about, but a tiny bit less intently.
Straya however didn't realise this and threw all their attacking prowess at the last five minutes.
Moving left, shifting right, they probed into the 22. A jolting tackle knocked the ball out, and Barrett found touch on the 40. Phew ... or not … as Aus took a quick line out and were at it again. Left, right. Left, right.
Just die, damn you.
And then another fumble fell for Ben of the Smiths. He jinked and jived, looked up and saw space where the Wallaby fullback should be and hoofed it down field.
All us All Black fans breathed a sigh as the ball headed out of the red zone. Then a flash from left of screen.
It's amusing to hear different commentaries all gasping "Beauden Barrett!" (my favourite is Tim Horan) as the replacement whipped up the inside, streaking past the gallant efforts of Pocock, who seemed to be running in gumboots through wet cement in comparison.
NZ leapt to it’s feet. "Go Beauden! ... Go! ... " and held its collective breath as he toed the ball on. The ball pitched up beautifully – as you’d expect for Barrett – and the world’s best impact player waltzed over for the winner.
Bill was back.
Carter rubbed some salt in, knocking the final two points over with his other, right, foot.
The teams played out the final 10 seconds, no-side blew and New Zealand celebrated.
After twenty-eight years of World Cups it seemed so easy, natural and right as the All Blacks repeated. All those years of anguish put to rest. Our continued dominance seemingly justified with a third World Cup. The World Cup wins eventually reflective of the out of tournament record (at least for now).
So on to the Land of the Rising Sun and what was seen as the most open World Cup ever. Of the eight original IRB countries only Scotland and France were not seemingly in the conversation of possible winners. And to echo the usual cliché, who knew which France would turn up. Even Argentina couldn’t be completely discounted. And didn’t the hosts just beat South Africa?
There’s more classic rugby in RWC IX, a few upsets (that may or may not involve New Zealand) coming up in next instalment (which, unlike the first 19 to date, I’m having to write from scratch…)