Ten of the Greatest All Blacks Games: #02
New Zealand 29
France 9
Eden Park, June 18, 1987
Background
The inaugural World Cup was organised at unfeasibly short notice and at the time, no one really knew whether there would be another. It was all being made up on the hoof and in a way, that helped the All Blacks as the pressure and expectation was nowhere near at the level it is now. The All Blacks entered the tournament as one of the favourites – more because they were joint hosts and because of their history rather than their current form. 1986 hadn’t been a great year, but the All Blacks made it clear from the opening game that they were a different team. Italy, Argentina and Fiji were all destroyed, Scotland were well beaten in the quarter-final and Wales taken apart in the semi-final.
How it Played Out
It was never really much of a contest. France, who had been so brutal in defeating the All Blacks in Nantes the year before, came into the final mentally drained after a dramatic victory against Australia in the semi-final. They were a quality team but the All Blacks were a phenomenal team. New Zealand played a different style of rugby to everyone else on the way to the final and they maintained it –albeit tinged with nerves. They were fitter, faster, stronger and more skilled than the French. They could scrummage, took their lineout ball and rucked and mauled strongly, while players like John Gallagher and John Kirwan were among the best attacking threats the world had ever seen. The All Blacks systematically dismantled France with a combination of power, technique and ruthlessness.
Heroes
John Kirwan had another big game, scoring a try, while David Kirk was certain and forceful in his captaincy. Buck Shelford made his presence felt but the man who stole the show, stole the World Cup really, was Michael Jones. The openside was the discovery of the season and his blend of athleticism, ball skills and bravery was a mix no one had ever seen before.
Context
The All Blacks had spent the early part of 1987 building their strength and fitness and that was the base from which they launched an incredible run of 21 games without defeat. The World Cup victory fueled their confidence and helped them believe that their high tempo game was almost impossible for the rest of the world to stop. It took until 1990 for the All Blacks to lose another game after the World Cup final. And, as everyone knows, 1987 has taken on much greater significance as a result of the All Blacks’ continued failure at subsequent World Cups. That sole victory has come to mean so much more – that team has taken on a much greater significance because images of David Kirk lifting the trophy must have been printed a million times by now.
Scorers
New Zealand 29
J. Kirwan, D. Kirk, M. Jones tries; G. Fox con, 4 pens, DG.
France 9
P. Berbezier try; D. Camberabero con, pen.
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