After seven weeks and 48 games the world cup has come to an end, and South Africa have been crowned world champions for the second time in twelve years.
As is often the case in major finals, the game it self was poor. Both sides played cagey rugby, neither of them willing to risk making a mistake that could cost them the chance of glory. In the end England lost a slew of players to injury and completely lost their shape. They were also desperately unlucky to have had what looked like a perfectly good try disallowed by the TMO. If Alain Rolland had chosen to go along with his first instincts, the try would have been given. He asked TMO Stuart Dickinson of Australia if there was any reason why he shouldn’t award the try. After a seemingly interminable deliberation, Dickinson came down against the Northern Hemisphere team.
Rugby World Cup 2007 will be remembered for many things, like England’s incredible renaissance which got them to the final against all odds; like Argentina’ double defeat of hosts France; for Ireland’s utterly cack performance; for New Zealand’s premature exit. The final will not be on that list of great memories.
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