Tense final was a game to savour

SUNDAY’S World Cup final was a pleasure to behold for many reasons, not least the honesty of endeavour and the sportsmanship on display from both sides.

Even more significantly, perhaps, was the demonstration that you don’t need a Super 15 scoreline in the region of 35-25 to provide a real game of rugby.

A final scoreline of 8-7 to New Zealand fitted the bill admirably. They certainly didn’t deserve to win by more than a single point, many would argue they didn’t deserve to win at all, and it would have been harsh on France had they gone down by more than the minimum amount. It was hard and bruising both mentally and physically and the All Blacks were forced to dig deep.

They were visibly rattled for much of a tense and exciting second half, not least because their frailty at half back was proving a millstone around their necks. Daniel Carter’s loss was always going to be crucial once the opposing side put it up to the All Blacks while it was also apparent that Piri Weepu was handed the number nine jersey by Graham Henry because he regarded him as the best of a not very strong group of scrum-halves.

His place kicking in Carter’s absence had proved an unexpected bonus but when it went awry in the final, so, too, did his overall game. The little chip kick that opened the way for the French try will haunt him for a long time and he could hardly have complained when replaced by Jimmy Ellis, whose limitations were also exposed.

France sensed the uneasiness and did everything they could to cause one of rugby’s greatest upsets. The chief architect of this totally unexpected performance was their quietly spoken but truly outstanding captain, Thierry Dusatoir.

Any reservations I might have entertained about nominating him as blind-side flanker in my team of the World Cup were completely dispelled. Imanol Harinordoquy also edged ahead of Kieran Read with another majestic display of the arts of the ideal modern number eight. And even if Richie McCaw, the triumphant captain of the champions, wasn’t quite the force you usually expect him to be, the courage he showed, playing with an infected foot, earns him the number seven jersey.

As for his captaincy and leadership qualities, no one does it better.

Ireland enjoyed a fine World Cup and yet the only player I can find a spot for is Paul O’Connell who edges out South Africa’s Victor Matfield to partner the indomitable 37-year-old Brad Thorn.

Few shed more lustre on the tournament than his teak tough Kiwi as he proved there is still a place at the very top for the over 30s. Any Irish men in a similar category contemplating retirement should take due note.

Few would argue with the choice of William Servat at hooker although not everyone would go along with Tony Woodcock of New Zealand and Welshman Adam Jones at prop although many would prefer to conveniently forget the malaise that is bedevilling the art of scrummaging and not least the highly frustrating instruction to “crouch, touch, pause, engage.”

Australia’s Will Genia has looked the game’s finest scrum-half for the past few years but on the evidence of New Zealand over the past seven weeks, it was impossible to look beyond Mike Phillips of Wales. And with Carter ruled out by injury and Quade Cooper almost a liability for Australia, the number ten spot goes to Rhys Priestland of Wales, even if he couldn’t make the latter stages because of injury.

All Black Israel Dagg stood out at full-back throughout while the composure of James O’Connor in pressure-laden situations allied to his counter attacking qualities earn him one wing position. The other goes to fellow Wallaby Digby Ioane who looked capable of winning matches on his own if only those inside him could give him the ball in a decent amount of space. The powerful running of Jamie Roberts for Wales and Ma’a Nonu for New Zealand made them automatic choices in the centre.

My World Cup team: I Dagg; J O’Connor, J Roberts, M Nonu, D Ioane; R Priestland, M Phillips; T Woodcock, W Servat, A Jones, B Thorn, P O’Connell, T Dusatoir, R McCaw, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: R Best, G Jenkins, V Matfield, J Kaino; W Genia, C Smith, F Steyn.