Two days before the final is the Bronze Final, where the teams play for third place. It means a lot to the players — Argentina won in 2007, upsetting host France yet again — because they get beau coups bonus dollars, and their nations climb up the world ranking list.
Plus, once the whistle blows, no one wants to lose a rugby match. Expect the same ferocity in the Bronze game as you would the “real” final.
Bronze: It’s England vs. South Africa. By now England has taken a beating, on the field, in the press, despite getting to the semifinals. Their emotional energy will be depleted but they’ll put on a brave face as they lose to South Africa.
The Final: Spoiler alert! It’s an All Down Under Final, and the host nation of New Zealand is absolutely abuzz after hosting the best Rugby World Cup yet. Australia’s pretty excited, too. Auckland’s Eden Park holds 60,000, but it will sound like 160,000 when the teams bolt from the stadium tunnel to take the field.
The game is one for the ages, but in the second half Australia, which has one the Cup twice, begins to fade as the All Blacks find new energy in national pride. Despite being No. 1 in the world, the ABs haven’t won a World Cup since the first one, in 1987, and they did it here, in Eden Park, against France.
And now they’re doing it again. The All Blacks win, 23-15, over Australia.
It’s been a great tournament. Now it’s onto England in 2015.
Previous: Quarters & semis | Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D
What do you think RugbyBuzz’s picks? Pick a bone with him at RugbyBuzz@gmail.com.
Share this:
Discover more from YSCRugby | Women's Rugby News
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.