1987 Rugby World Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1987 Rugby World Cup Final was the final match in the 1987 Rugby World Cup
, the first Rugby World Cup
played.
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
.
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.
, 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 3 minutes later . Jones' try was converted by Fox , a tense final was finely balanced at half time with New Zealand leading France 9–0 .
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 it's 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 .
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
France
|
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
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
, the first Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
played.
It was played at Eden Park
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand on 20 June 1987 between the hosts New Zealand and France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
. The referee of the match was the Australian Kerry Fitzgerald
Kerry Fitzgerald
Kerry Fitzgerald was an Australian rugby union referee best known for officiating in the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final.-Refereeing career:...
.
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.
First half
In front of a capacity crowd at Eden ParkEden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
, 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
Grant Fox
Grant James Fox is a former rugby union player from New Zealand. He was born in New Plymouth. He attended Auckland Grammar school....
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
Michael Jones
- Athletes :* Mike Jones , welterweight boxer* Mike Jones , English expedition canoeist* Mike Jones , American freestyle motocross rider also known as "Mad Mike Jones"...
, followed just 3 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
France came out with renewed vigour after the break and a Didier Camberabero penalty four minutes into the half put France on the scoreboard . The France fightback was , however , shortlived and New Zealand forward power in the setpiece and open play was to the fore . Tries by David KirkDavid Kirk
David Edward Kirk, MBE, , is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987....
and John Kirwan
John Kirwan
John Kirwan may refer to:* John Kirwan , cricketer* John Kirwan , 20th century Australian politician* John Kirwan , New Zealand dual code rugby footballer and coach...
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
Pierre Berbizier
Pierre Berbizier is a French former rugby union footballer, and currently head coach of Top 14 side Racing Métro. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played 56 times for France.-Biography:Berbizier was born in Saint-Gaudens...
. The try was converted as the last kick of the game by Didier Camberabero
Didier Camberabero
Didier Camberabero , is a former French international rugby union. He played as fly half.-Biography:Didier is son of former international, Guy Camberabero, and nephew of Lilian Camberabero, two brothers who took part in the first Grand Slam won by France...
.
The final had hardly lived up to it's 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 .
Match Details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | New Zealand | ||
| FB | 15 | John Gallagher John Anthony Gallagher John Anthony Gallagher is a former rugby union All Black. He was born in London.Gallagher was one of the first of a succession of All Blacks to switch codes to rugby league.... |
|
| RW | 14 | John Kirwan | |
| OC | 13 | Joe Stanley Joe Stanley Joe Stanley is a former rugby union player. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand.-Career:Stanley played for the All Blacks, Ponsonby and Auckland as a centre. Joe is a member of the Stanley Rugby Clan which includes Chase and Benson... |
|
| IC | 12 | Warwick Taylor | |
| LW | 11 | Craig Green Craig Green Craig Ivan Green, is a New Zealand born rugby union footballer turned coach. He played on the wing and played 39 times as an All Black from 1983 until 1987. He played his provincial rugby for Canterbury and finished off his career in Italy.-Coaching career:Recently he has moved back to Italy and... |
|
| FH | 10 | Grant Fox Grant Fox Grant James Fox is a former rugby union player from New Zealand. He was born in New Plymouth. He attended Auckland Grammar school.... |
|
| SH | 9 | David Kirk David Kirk David Edward Kirk, MBE, , is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.... (c Captain (sports) In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field... ) |
|
| N8 | 8 | Wayne Shelford Wayne Shelford Wayne Thomas "Buck" Shelford is a New Zealand former rugby union footballer and coach who represented and captained New Zealand in the late 1980s... |
|
| BF | 7 | Michael Jones | |
| OF | 6 | Alan Whetton Alan Whetton Alan Whetton also known as AJ is a former rugby union footballer who played for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. Whetton first played representative rugby for Auckland in 1981. He played alongside his twin brother Gary for both Auckland, and later the All Blacks... |
|
| RL | 5 | Gary Whetton Gary Whetton Gary William Whetton is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played 180 matches for Auckland, and 58 tests at lock for the All Blacks from 1981 to 1991. He currently serves on the Auckland Blues board.... |
|
| LL | 4 | Murray Pierce | |
| TP | 3 | John Drake | |
| HK | 2 | Sean Fitzpatrick Sean Fitzpatrick Sean Fitzpatrick MNZM is a former rugby union footballer who represented New Zealand, and is widely regarded as one of the finest players ever to come from that country. He is also the son of former player Brian Fitzpatrick.... |
|
| LP | 1 | Steve McDowell | |
| Coach: | |||
 Brian LochoreBrian Lochore Sir Brian James Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE is a former rugby union footballer and coach who represented and captained the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. He played at number 8 and lock, as well as captaining the side 46 times... |
|||
Serge Blanco
Serge Blanco is a former rugby union footballer who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and the French national side, gaining 93 caps, 81 of them at fullback. His alternative position was wing....
Didier Camberabero
Didier Camberabero , is a former French international rugby union. He played as fly half.-Biography:Didier is son of former international, Guy Camberabero, and nephew of Lilian Camberabero, two brothers who took part in the first Grand Slam won by France...
Philippe Sella
Philippe Sella is a French former rugby union player, who held the record for most international appearances until beaten by Jason Leonard. He became a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1999, and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008.Sella joined Saracens in 1996 from French side Agen...
Denis Charvet
Denis Charvet is a former French rugby union player. He played as a Centre.Denis Charvet played for Stade Toulousain and Racing Club de France. He earned his first national cap on March 1 , 1986 against Wales at Cardiff...
Patrice Lagisquet
Patrice Lagisquet is a former French rugby union footballer and a current coach. He played as a wing. He was nicknamed "The Bayonne Express"....
Franck Mesnel
Franck Mesnel is a former French rugby union footballer. He played as a fly-half and as a centre.Mesnel played for Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Racing Club de France...
Pierre Berbizier
Pierre Berbizier is a French former rugby union footballer, and currently head coach of Top 14 side Racing Métro. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played 56 times for France.-Biography:Berbizier was born in Saint-Gaudens...
Laurent Rodriguez
Laurent Rodriguez is a retired French rugby player.He made his international debut for France on 5 July 1981 in a test against Australia. Rodriguez was called for the 1987 Rugby World Cup, where France was runners-up to New Zealand....
Éric Champ
Éric Champ is a former French rugby union player. He played as a flanker and as a number eight.Champ played all his career at RC Toulonnais, from 1979/80 to 1993/94. He won two French Championships, in 1986/87 and 1991/92. He had to leave competition after a serious injury.He had 42 caps for...
Jean Condom
Jean Condom is a retired French international rugby union player.He played as a lock for Biarritz Olympique....
Alain Lorieux
Alain Lorieux Alain Lorieux Alain Lorieux (born March 26, 1956 in La Tronche, France is a retired French international rugby union player.He played as a Lock for Grenoble.He earned his first cap with the French national team on 5 July against Australia at Brisbane...
Jean-Pierre Garuet-Lempirou
Jean-Pierre Garuet-Lempirou is a former French international rugby union player. He played as a prop for FC Lourdes....
Daniel Dubroca
Daniel Dubroca is a former French national rugby union player and coach. He played as a prop and as a hooker.-Biography:Dubroca was born at Aiguillon....
(c
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
)
Pascal Ondarts
Pascal Ondarts is a former French rugby union player. He played as a prop and as a hooker. He was considered by The Times one of the 10 most frightening French players ever to represent his National Team....
Jacques FourouxJacques Fouroux
Jacques Fouroux was a French rugby union player and coach. He captained France when they won the Grand Slam in 1977, and was the manager when the side repeated the feat in 1981 and 1987.-Player:...