The night 4.2m New Zealanders made 111 tackles

SITTING in the grandstand at Eden Park watching New Zealand win the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, I never imagined it would take 24 years for the All Blacks to repeat the feat.

Statistically, the All Blacks might be the most successful team in world sport, but as was proved yesterday, the William Webb Ellis trophy is not easy to win.

For the innovation, inspiration and general contribution New Zealand has given to world rugby over the years, I would like to think that we deserved the win. But the last seven weeks has shown that it means more than that to Kiwis.