Graham Henry announces All Blacks match day 22 for 2011 Rugby World Cup’s final match – Rugby News
New Zealand national Rugby Union team’s head coach, Graham Henry, has announced his match day 22 for the final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). New Zealand is the host of the Rugby Union’s
global event and they will host France in the finals of the Webb Ellis trophy at Eden Garden, Auckland on Sunday, October 23.
Henry has named an unchanged starting xv, which took the field against the Wallabies in last week’s semi-final encounter. However, he has made one change on the bench, in which Victor Vito
is dropped from the roster altogether, making way for the Adam Thomson. Earlier, Thomson sustained an ankle injury, which sidelined him from the action. The team was announced on Friday, October 20.
Speaking on the occasion, Henry added, “This is the biggest game of the players' lives and there is obvious excitement and anticipation at what lies ahead.”
The All Blacks are currently the world’s number 1 team and will start the match as the favourites, however, they will be vary of the threat the French pose. Both teams have already played with
each in the competition, during their pool A encounter earlier in the tournament.
All Blacks playing in New Zealand and most importantly playing at the Eden Park are always very dangerous opponent. However, France will enter the Sunday’s match knowing that they were the
last team, which beat All Blacks at the Eden Park. All Blacks last sustained a defeat at Eden Park, some 17 years ago at the hands of the touring French side.
Besides this, France enjoys a relatively better record against the All Blacks in the knockout stages games of the RWC tournament. Recently, France defeated All Blacks in the quarter-finals
of the 2007 RWC.
Henry has expressed his delight playing the final in-front of the home ground. He said, “To be playing in the Final of the Rugby World Cup in front of our home crowd is going to be massive
and a very special occasion for the team as well as our fans.”
All Blacks squad announced for the final of the 2011 Webb Ellis trophy consists of,
Starting XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino,
5 Brad Thorn, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements:16 Andrew h**e, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
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