1999 Rugby World Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1999 Rugby World Cup Final, was the final match in the 1999 Rugby World Cup
, played in Wales
.
The match was played at Millennium Stadium
, Cardiff
on 6 November 1999 between and with 72,500 in attendance.
Australia won the encounter by 23 points, and with it, their second Webb Ellis Cup
, having won the 1991 Rugby World Cup
in England
.
, Australia met France in the fourth Rugby World Cup Final. For both teams it was their second Final. Australia were resilient in defence throughout the tournament while France promised an attacking back line full of talent. In damp and cold conditions France took an early lead with a Christophe Lamaison
penalty after just two minutes. Penalty kicking would be the story of the day and Matt Burke
equalled the scores ater 4 minutes with a successful kick. The Australian forwards dominated in the loose and their tactic of continually kicking for territory and position proved effective. Lamaison offered some respite by slotting a 12th minute penalty to give France a 6-3 lead. Injury and the subsequent substitution of Olivier Magne
disrupted the France back row line-up after 20 minutes. Matt Burke
, however, showed imperious accuracy as time and again French exuberance in the loose was penalised. By half-time the Australians led 12-6 with all points from the two talented goal kickers.
A Burke penalty after 64 minutes put Australia more than one score in front, and theoretically clear. With only 15 minutes remaining Ben Tune
crashed over for the first try of the contest with Burke again adding the conversion points. A further infringement and yet another Burke penalty seemed to have won the game for Australia The last action of the final was a rolling forward surge and try for Australian second half substitute Owen Finegan
. Inevitably Matt Burke slotted the conversion. Referee Andre Watson
called time on the contest with Australia emphatic winners 35-12.
Again the final was hardly a classic match, though the modern approach of effective defensive lines and an outstanding goal kicking display proved to be rewarded. Australia were rewarded for their efforts with a second World Cup win and captain John Eales
accepted the Webb Ellis Cup from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
France
|
FB
15
Xavier Garbajosa
RW
14
Philippe Bernat-Salles
OC
13
Richard Dourthe
IC
12
Emile Ntamack
LW
11
Christophe Dominici
FH
10
Christophe Lamaison
SH
9
Fabien Galthie
N8
8
Christophe Juillet
OF
7
Olivier Magne
BF
6
Marc Lievremont
RL
5
Fabien Pelous
LL
4
Abdelatif Benazzi
TP
3
Franck Tournaire
HK
2
Raphael Ibanez
(c
)
LP
1
Cedric Soulette
Replacements:
HK
22
Marc Dal Maso
PR
21
Pieter de Villiers
LK
20
Olivier Brouzet
FL
19
Arnaud Costes
SH
18
Stéphane Castaignède
FH
17
Stephane Glas
FB
16
Ugo Mola
Coach:
France Jean-Claude Skrela
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
, played in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The match was played at Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
on 6 November 1999 between and with 72,500 in attendance.
Australia won the encounter by 23 points, and with it, their second Webb Ellis Cup
Webb Ellis Cup
The Webb Ellis Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the Rugby World Cup. The Cup is named after William Webb Ellis, who is often credited as the inventor of rugby football. The trophy is silver gilt and has been presented to the winner of the Rugby World Cup since the first competition in 1987...
, having won the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
First half
In front of a capacity crowd of 72,500 at the recently completed Millennium StadiumMillennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
, Australia met France in the fourth Rugby World Cup Final. For both teams it was their second Final. Australia were resilient in defence throughout the tournament while France promised an attacking back line full of talent. In damp and cold conditions France took an early lead with a Christophe Lamaison
Christophe Lamaison
Christophe Lamaison is a former French rugby union footballer who represented France at international level, and Brive, Agen and Aviron Bayonnais at professional club level. He won 37 caps and is the current all-time leading points scorer for France, with 380 points...
penalty after just two minutes. Penalty kicking would be the story of the day and Matt Burke
Matt Burke
Matthew Burke is a retired Australian rugby union player. He grew up in Carlingford, New South Wales, and was schooled at St Gerard Majella Catholic Primary School, Carlingford and St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill...
equalled the scores ater 4 minutes with a successful kick. The Australian forwards dominated in the loose and their tactic of continually kicking for territory and position proved effective. Lamaison offered some respite by slotting a 12th minute penalty to give France a 6-3 lead. Injury and the subsequent substitution of Olivier Magne
Olivier Magne
Olivier Claude C. Magne is a French former rugby union footballer and a current coach.Magne was a rugby god and back row forward, known especially for his speed and handling in open field play. He represented 89 times, scoring 14 tries.He joined his hometown team, Stade Aurillacois, as a boy in...
disrupted the France back row line-up after 20 minutes. Matt Burke
Matt Burke
Matthew Burke is a retired Australian rugby union player. He grew up in Carlingford, New South Wales, and was schooled at St Gerard Majella Catholic Primary School, Carlingford and St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill...
, however, showed imperious accuracy as time and again French exuberance in the loose was penalised. By half-time the Australians led 12-6 with all points from the two talented goal kickers.
Second half
As with the first half Burke and Lamaison traded penalty goals. After an hour the contest was still in the balance with the score at 18-12 to Australia. France continued to look lacklustre as the Wallabies began to mount a series of attacks perhaps the previous exertions of the semi-final victory had taken its toll on the French team.A Burke penalty after 64 minutes put Australia more than one score in front, and theoretically clear. With only 15 minutes remaining Ben Tune
Ben Tune
Ben Tune is an Australian rugby union player. He played most of his rugby career on the wing but later switched to outside centre....
crashed over for the first try of the contest with Burke again adding the conversion points. A further infringement and yet another Burke penalty seemed to have won the game for Australia The last action of the final was a rolling forward surge and try for Australian second half substitute Owen Finegan
Owen Finegan
Owen Finegan is an Australian international rugby union player who plays as a flanker or lock. He is nicknamed "Melon" because of his large head....
. Inevitably Matt Burke slotted the conversion. Referee Andre Watson
André Watson
André Jacobus Watson is a South African former rugby union referee. He officiated a record number of finals in the Rugby World Cup , the Currie Cup and Super Rugby .-Biography:...
called time on the contest with Australia emphatic winners 35-12.
Again the final was hardly a classic match, though the modern approach of effective defensive lines and an outstanding goal kicking display proved to be rewarded. Australia were rewarded for their efforts with a second World Cup win and captain John Eales
John Eales
John Eales AM is an Australian former rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby.-Early life:...
accepted the Webb Ellis Cup from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | Australia | |||
| FB | 15 | Matt Burke Matt Burke Matthew Burke is a retired Australian rugby union player. He grew up in Carlingford, New South Wales, and was schooled at St Gerard Majella Catholic Primary School, Carlingford and St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill... |
||
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune Ben Tune Ben Tune is an Australian rugby union player. He played most of his rugby career on the wing but later switched to outside centre.... |
||
| OC | 13 | Dan Herbert | ||
| IC | 12 | Tim Horan Tim Horan Tim Horan AM is a former Australian rugby union footballer. He played for the Queensland Reds in the Super 12, and represented Australia, he was one of the best centres in the world throughout the 1990s due to his attacking prowess, formidable defence and playmaking ability.As well as inside... |
||
| LW | 11 | Joe Roff Joe Roff Joe Roff is a retired Australian rugby union footballer and a product of the Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union Club in Canberra, who played on the wing or at fullback for Brumbies and Australia and played 5 tests as a centre in the early part of his test career... |
||
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham Stephen Larkham Stephen Larkham is an Australian rugby union footballer currently playing for the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan. He is best known for his career with the Brumbies in Super Rugby, for whom he played from the inception of the professional Super 12 in 1996 through 2007, and his long tenure with the... |
||
| SH | 9 | George Gregan George Gregan George Musarurwa Gregan AM is an Australian rugby union halfback who has made more appearances for his national team than any other player in the sport's history.... |
||
| N8 | 8 | Toutai Kefu Toutai Kefu Toutai Kefu is a rugby player who won 60 caps playing at number eight for the Australian rugby union side .-Career:... |
||
| OF | 7 | David Wilson | ||
| BF | 6 | Matt Cockbain Matt Cockbain Matt Cockbain is an Australian rugby union footballer. He played over 60 times for the national team, the Wallabies. He made his debut for Australia in 1997 in Brisbane, in a Test match against France.... |
||
| RL | 5 | John Eales John Eales John Eales AM is an Australian former rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby.-Early life:... (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... ) |
||
| LL | 4 | David Giffin David Giffin David Giffin is a former vice-captain of the Wallabies in rugby union, where he played in the lock position. Queensland-born, he played most of his professional career with the ACT Brumbies in what was then the Super 12. At this level, he earned 81 caps - earning a further 49 at international level... |
||
| TP | 3 | Andrew Blades Andrew Blades Andrew Thomas Blades, , was an rugby union player for Australia from 1996 to 1999. His last game for Australia was their victory over France in final of the 1999 Rugby World Cup. After retiring from playing he became a coach, leading the Newcastle Falcons for two years before becoming the... |
||
| HK | 2 | Michael Foley | ||
| LP | 1 | Richard Harry Richard Harry Richard Lewis Lloyd Harry is a retired Australian rugby union player.... |
||
| Replacements: | ||||
| HK | 22 | Jeremy Paul Jeremy Paul Jeremy Paul is a New Zealand-born Australia rugby union player. He played hooker and prop for the wallabies and the ACT Brumbies.At the end of 2005, Paul was awarded the John Eales Medal, receiving 194 votes from his teammates... |
||
| PR | 21 | Dan Crowley Dan Crowley Dan Crowley is an Australian rugby union footballer who played for the Wallabies 38 times and earned over 100 caps for the Queensland Reds during his rugby career... |
||
| LK | 20 | Mark Connors Mark Connors Mark Connors is an Australian rugby union footballer. He is currently the Queensland Reds most capped player ever, playing 134 games for the side... |
||
| FL | 19 | Owen Finegan Owen Finegan Owen Finegan is an Australian international rugby union player who plays as a flanker or lock. He is nicknamed "Melon" because of his large head.... |
||
| SH | 18 | Chris Whitaker Chris Whitaker Chris Whitaker is a retired Australian rugby union footballer. He is a much acclaimed scrum-half for Leinster in Ireland. He previously played for the New South Wales Waratahs, a state team representing New South Wales in the Super 14.... |
||
| CT | 17 | Jason Little | ||
| CT | 16 | Nathan Grey | ||
| Coach: | ||||
 Australia Rod McQueenRod McQueen Rod Macqueen was coach of the most successful Australian rugby union side to date. He has signed on to become the inaugural coach of the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby side.-Career:... |
||||
Xavier Garbajosa
Xavier Garbajosa is a retired French rugby player.Garbajosa was born on 5 December 1976 in Toulouse. He plays in the back-line as a winger, center or full-back. He spent most of his career playing for the Stade Toulousain and moved to the Aviron Bayonnais in the French Top 14 club competition in...
Philippe Bernat-Salles
Philippe Bernat-Salles is a retired French Rugby Union player, usually playing as a wing. His main skill was a blinding speed, while he was also visually striking due to his unruly mop of gray hair....
Richard Dourthe
Richard Dourthe is a retired French international rugby union.He is the son of Claude Dourthe and both Raphaël Ibañez and Olivier Magne's brother-in-law, being them married with his two sisters.- External links :****...
Christophe Dominici
Christophe Dominici is a former French rugby union footballer of Italian origin. He played wing for Stade Français and France. He has been a coach with Stade Français since the start of the 2008/9 season and a board member since 2009/10 season.-Club career:Christophe Dominici was born in Toulon...
Christophe Lamaison
Christophe Lamaison is a former French rugby union footballer who represented France at international level, and Brive, Agen and Aviron Bayonnais at professional club level. He won 37 caps and is the current all-time leading points scorer for France, with 380 points...
Fabien Galthié
Fabien Galthié is a French rugby union coach and former player. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played much of his club rugby for Colomiers, and later on in his career, Stade Français. Galthié won 64 caps for France, including four Rugby World Cup appearances, as well as captaining the...
Christophe Juillet
Christophe Juillet is a French former international rugby union footballer who also played for France national team.- Career :...
Olivier Magne
Olivier Claude C. Magne is a French former rugby union footballer and a current coach.Magne was a rugby god and back row forward, known especially for his speed and handling in open field play. He represented 89 times, scoring 14 tries.He joined his hometown team, Stade Aurillacois, as a boy in...
Marc Lièvremont
Marc Lièvremont is a former rugby union footballer and was the head coach of the French national rugby union team. He played as a back-row forward for France, gaining 25 caps from 1995 to 1999, and was selected in France's 1999 Rugby World Cup squad...
Fabien Pelous
Fabien Pelous is a retired French rugby union footballer. A lock who also occasionally played as a number eight and flanker, he played almost all of his professional career for Stade Toulousain, and is the all-time leader in appearances for the French national team...
Abdelatif Benazzi
Abdelatif Benazzi is a French-Moroccan rugby union footballer who represented both Morocco and France. He played as a lock or back row forward....
Franck Tournaire
Franck Tournaire is a former French international professional rugby union player now playing amateur rugby for US Carcassonne....
Raphaël Ibanez
Raphaël Ibañez is a retired French rugby union footballer. A hooker, he was also a former captain of the France national team.-Club career:...
(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...
)
Cédric Soulette
Cédric Soulette is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the AS Béziers club. In the past, he also played for Toulouse and ASM Clermont Auvergne. His usual position is as a prop. He has also played for the French national team and was a part of their 1998 Grand Slam team. He was...
Marc Dal Maso
Marc Dal Maso is a former French rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a hooker.He played for Stade Montois, moving then to SU Agen. He then would play for Colomiers , Section Paloise and USA Perpignan...
Olivier Brouzet
Olivier Brouzet is a French rugby union footballer. His usual position was at lock. He has played over 70 internationals for France, including being a part of numerous Rugby World Cup squads for France. He has also played for a variety of French and English clubs.Brouzet made his debut for France...
Arnaud Costes
Arnaud Costes is a French former international rugby union footballer who also played for France national team.- Career :...
Stéphane Castaignède
Stéphane Castaignède is a former French rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a scrum-half....
Stéphane Glas
Stéphane Glas is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Stade Francais Paris in the top level of French rugby, the Top 14 competition. He previously played for Bourgoin. He has also represented France well over 30 times...
France Jean-Claude SkrelaJean-Claude Skrela
Jean-Claude Skrela is a former coach of the French national rugby union team. His son, David Skrela, is a French rugby union player and his daughter, Gaëlle Skrela, is a professional basketball player....