1987 Rugby World Cup final

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The 1987 Rugby World Cup final was the final match of the 1987 Rugby World Cup, the first Rugby World Cup played.

1987 Rugby World Cup final
Event1987 Rugby World Cup
Date20 June 1987
VenueEden Park, Auckland
RefereeKerry Fitzgerald (Australia)[1]
Attendance48,035
1991

It was played at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand on 20 June 1987 between the hosts New Zealand and France. The referee of the match was the Australian Kerry Fitzgerald and the touch judges were Jim Fleming and Brian Anderson, both from Scotland.

New Zealand won the match 29–9 with three tries, one conversion, four penalties and a drop goal, becoming the first winners of the Rugby World Cup.[2]

This same matchup would be contested again at the 2011 final, with New Zealand again becoming the world champions.

Match

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Summary

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First half

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In front of a capacity crowd at Eden Park, hosts New Zealand met France in the inaugural Rugby World Cup final. France seemed lacklustre following their amazing win over Australia in the semi-final. New Zealand played a mainly kicking game in the first half with Grant Fox kicking for territory and position. A Fox drop goal after 14 minutes settled home nerves. A try by the World Cup's star performer Michael Jones, followed just three minutes later. Jones' try was converted by Fox, a tense final was finely balanced at half time with New Zealand leading France 9–0.

Second half

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France came out with renewed vigour after the break and a Didier Camberabero penalty four minutes into the half finally put France on the scoreboard. The France fightback was, however, short-lived and New Zealand forward power in the setpiece and open play was to the fore. Tries by David Kirk and John Kirwan together with the relentlessly accurate goal-kicking of Fox meant that going into the final moments New Zealand led 29–3.

A final surge near the whistle led to a France try through Pierre Berbizier. The try was converted as the last kick of the game by Didier Camberabero.

The final had hardly lived up to its billing, probably due to the exertions by France in their semi-final win. It was however fitting that tries from three stars of the tournament, Jones, Kirk and Kirwan, won the contest and gave New Zealand the Webb Ellis Cup.

Details

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20 June 1987
New Zealand  29–09  France
Try: Jones
Kirk
Kirwan
Con: Fox
Pen: Fox (4)
Drop: Fox
ReportTry: Berbizier
Con: Camberabero
Pen: Camberabero
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 48,035
Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald (Australia)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Zealand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
France
FB 15 John Gallagher
RW 14 John Kirwan
OC 13 Joe Stanley
IC 12 Warwick Taylor
LW 11 Craig Green
FH 10 Grant Fox
SH 9 David Kirk (c)
N8 8 Buck Shelford
OF 7 Michael Jones
BF 6 Alan Whetton
RL 5 Gary Whetton
LL 4 Murray Pierce
TP 3 John Drake
HK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick
LP 1 Steve McDowall
Coach:
  Brian Lochore
 
FB 15 Serge Blanco
RW 14 Didier Camberabero
OC 13 Philippe Sella
IC 12 Denis Charvet
LW 11 Patrice Lagisquet
FH 10 Franck Mesnel
SH 9 Pierre Berbizier
N8 8 Laurent Rodriguez
OF 7 Dominique Erbani
BF 6 Éric Champ
RL 5 Jean Condom
LL 4 Alain Lorieux
TP 3 Jean-Pierre Garuet-Lempirou
HK 2 Daniel Dubroca (c)
LP 1 Pascal Ondarts
Coach:
  Jacques Fouroux

References

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  1. ^ "Jérôme Garcès to Referee Rugby World Cup 2019 Final". 9 November 2024.
  2. ^ "1987: Kiwis see off France in final". BBC Sport. 24 September 2003. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
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