4. Luke McAlister Misses his ‘Make or Break’ All Blacks Moment
New Zealand 18 – 20 France: 2007 Rugby World Cup Quarter Final (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
After the dominance throughout the Summer, the stage was set for what many expected to be another routine All Blacks victory over France. However, this match has gone down to live in New Zealand rugby infamy, with the grey away kit burned across the country after this shocking upset. All Blacks centre Luke McAlister led from the front, hitting the highest highs and lowest lows as momentum swung repeatedly in Cardiff.
After scoring the All Blacks’ first try of the match, McAlister later served 10 minutes in the sin bin for a controversial obstruction. After an exhausting rollercoaster for the former Sale Shark, the opportunity arose for McAlister to secure a late triumph, and book New Zealand a spot in the semi-finals.
With the clock counting down for the final minutes at the Principality Stadium, McAlister stepped up to slot a drop goal, and salvage a late win for his side. However, he failed to generate enough power in his effort from the half way line, as the ball sunk below the crossbar, along with any remaining chance of a dramatic All Blacks victory. It was a cruel ending to McAlister’s Rugby World Cup campaign, as the centre had been performing excellently for New Zealand with his extended role in the All Blacks’ midfield.
France were able to withstand any additional pressure in the match’s closing moments, and hold out on their two-point lead for a historic victory in Wales. Tries from France’s workhorse captain Thierry Dusatoir and generational talent Yannick Jauzion helped towards Les Bleus’ points tally, whilst Lionel Beauxis and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde slotting the all important points from the tee.
5. Stephen Donald Cancels Fishing Trip to Catch Rugby World Cup Glory
France 7 – 8 New Zealand: 2011 Rugby World Cup Final (Eden Park, Auckland)
Some 24 years on from the inaugural tournament, New Zealand and France once again met in Auckland’s Eden Park, to go to war in the Rugby World Cup Final. However, an unfortunate groin injury to All Blacks talisman Dan Carter had thinned out the ranks, with Aaron Cruden the only viable option in Steve Hansen’s camp to start at fly half. The former Hurricanes and Chiefs man was selected to lead the line, having played understudy to the legendary ‘DC’ for the pool stages.
After the quarter-final victory over Argentina, Hansen made an iconic phone call to Bath’s newest signing Stephen Donald. The fly half answered the phone whilst fishing on the Waikato river, and ended his trip early to join the All Blacks camp, ahead of the competition’s closing stages. Donald was selected amongst the replacements for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final, with Cruden again picked to lead the line after impressing in the semi-final win over Australia.
The match itself was one for the purists, with France and New Zealand slogging it out to gain the upper hand at Eden Park. Tony Woodcock broke the deadlock for the All Blacks, yet Cruden failed to convert his efforts after quarter of an hour’s play. Donald was called into action sooner than expected, after Cruden suffered an injury after just 34 minutes. Donald rose to the occassion, yet France battled back to regain the lead early in the second half. Thierry Dusatoir once again scored a try against the All Blacks, with Francois Trinh-Duc converting the extras.
In a match with presented few opportunities for openings, Donald made good on his chance to slot the match-winning penalty for the All Blacks. Just a fortnight before he was whitebait fishing off the Eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, and now he had kicked his country to the top of the mountain for Rugby World Cup glory. The penalty was slotted just six minutes after the break, with New Zealand able to withstand the French onslaught for an additional 34 exhausting minutes.
An iconic story that lives on fondly for the All Blacks, as Donald’s penalty was the decisive difference for their second Rugby World Cup title. This win also marked the the first of two back-to-back World Cup wins for Richie McCaw’s New Zealand, as the All Blacks enjoyed the most dominant period of any international rugby side, throughout the history of the modern era.