New Zealand defeated France 8-7 at Eden Park in Auckland to win the Rugby World Cup on Sunday. A penalty from fourth-choice flyhalf Stephen Donald ended the country’s wait for a second victory after 1987.
French began dreaming of their first World Cup thanks to a converted try in the second half from Dusautoir.
The All Blacks looked sharper and more powerful in the early exchanges as the French enjoyed plenty of possession but ran up blind alleys and were swallowed up by the swarming New Zealand defence, a British news agency reported.
France captain Dusautoir was penalised for holding on at the back of the lineout and Weepu launched the resulting kick into touch deep in the French 22.
By the 34th minute both starting flyhalves were off the pitch, France’s Morgan Parra departing courtesy of a knee to the head and Aaron Cruden succumbing to a knee injury.
France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili missed a difficult penalty early in the second half and Donald, who came on for Cruden for his first game of the tournament, put the All Blacks 8-0 ahead after 46 minutes.
In the 63rd minute, the All Black scrum, who had dominated in the first half, were penalised for driving up but Trinh-Duc dragged his 47-metre penalty attempt wide.
A turnover in the 77th minute was greeted as if it were a try and the match ended three minutes later when the French were penalised for offside, sending the host nation into raptures.
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