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Steve Chadwick Moneta Communications 14 Lilliput Road Poole Dorset, BH14 8JZ 01617971036 |
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New Zealand are the clear favourites to win the Webb-Ellis Trophy when they play France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final on Sunday.
Online PR News – 21-October-2011 –The 2011 Rugby World Cup Final kicks off at Eden Park, Auckland, on Sunday with the hosts New Zealand red hot favourites to regain the Webb-Ellis Trophy they last won in the inaugural RWC back in 1987.
They face France, the team who they beat in that 1987 final but who eliminated them in the Quarter Finals of the last Rugby World Cup in 2007. France are a team who have very often in the past defied the odds in their matches against New Zealand but on current form, they will have their work cut out to do that this time. For the record France have beaten the All Blacks 12 times and drew with them once in 50 internationals played. A record that stands comparison with any team against the side who have been the world’s leading rugby nation since they first played international rugby.
The last three matches however have all gone the way of the All Blacks with the most recent being the 37-17 thrashing they gave the French in the Pool Stages of the tournament just last month.
That win was one of six emphatic victories achieved by the All Blacks in this tournament and one that makes it extremely hard to make a case for a French win.
France’s road to the final could not be any more different from the All Blacks, not only did they lose to the host nation in the Pool stage, they also lost to Tonga, a result which is now regarded as their worst in their otherwise illustrious history. They stuttered to success over Japan and Canada and were lucky to deny England in the last eight and were simply awful against a fourteen man Wales in their 9-8 semi final victory.
If their performances on the pitch have been bad, their performances as a squad off the pitch have been even worse, with reports of serious unrest verging on mutiny being reported. It is clear that a section of the players are totally at odds with Head Coach, Mark Lievremont and it is also clear that he is totally unhappy with them. Could the All Blacks have a better situation? Something that is reflected in the latest Rugby World Cup odds for the final.
New Zealand are a best price 1/10 to win the trophy, which speaks volumes about the chances of themselves and France. If you're looking for better odds, then you can back the All Blacks at 10/11 to win by a margin of 16 points or more.
The match will be refereed by Craig Joubert of South Africa, a highly regarded but no nonsense official with a reputation for allowing games to flow, he will be supported by Alain Rolland of Ireland and Nigel Owens of Wales who will be the touch judges, while Italian Giulio de Santis will be the Television Match Official.
The teams for the match have already been announced and are:-
New Zealand: 1. Tony Woodcock 2. Keven Mealamu 3. Owen Franks 4. Sam Whitelock 5. Brad Thorn 6. Jerome Kaino 7. Richie McCaw (c) 8. Kieran Read 9. Piri Weepu 10. Aaron Cruden 11. Richard Kahui 12. Ma'a Nonu 13. Conrad Smith 14. Cory Jane 15. Israel Dagg
France: 15-Maxime Medard, 14-Vincent Clerc, 13-Aurelien Rougerie, 12-Maxime Mermoz, 11-Alexis Palisson, 10-Morgan Parra, 9-Dimitri Yachvili, 8-Imanol Harinordoquy, 7-Julien Bonnaire, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5-Lionel Nallet, 4-Pascal Pape, 3-Nicolas Mas, 2-William Servat, 1-Jean-Baptiste Poux
For more information on the Rugby World Cup visit www.rugby-world-cup.net
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