Wynne Gray's 50 greatest rugby moments: No.11

All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock scores, during the 2001 Rugby World Cup Final. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The All Blacks were proud of their flowing style but nothing gave them more pleasure in 2011 than kicking into touch.

A double-check with referee Craig Joubert and halfback Andy Ellis hoofed the ball into the crowd to confirm the exclamation mark on their World Cup campaign. They were the champions, they had beaten France 8-7 and claimed the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time.

They had joined the men of 1987 as champions of the world. They strangled memories of their garish campaign when they were punished by the same French rivals in the quarter-final. It was a struggle but they had the result.

Whitebaiting five-eighths Stephen Donald rolled in as an injury replacement from his beer and favourite Port Waikato haunt to squeeze into his jersey and do the same with a penalty inside the right post which ultimately proved to be the winning strike.

Not much was pretty about the play in the final as the glow of the semifinal win against the Wallabies disappeared in the massive struggle to subdue the French.

Skipper Richie McCaw led his men on a broken foot, coach Graham Henry could "retire in peace" and the nation's rugby supporters went into celebration delirium. The 24-year drought had been broken.

Those at the ground and watching on television around the world sat through the last 33 minutes as the scoreboard remained unaltered. There was visible anguish in the coaching box and tension on Eden Park. Players revealed how their thinking became a little clouded as the pressure rose.

The All Blacks led with Tony Woodcock's try and Donald's penalty before a mistake on defence allowed Thierry Dusautoir to reply and Francois Trinh-Duc converted.

The All Black systems become clogged as France believe a bit more.

It was beginning to have eerie similarities to the 2007 quarter or the 1999 semifinal against the same foes.

The crowd sucks in its cheeks as the All Blacks muster some control and hug the touchline near halfway. France infringe, Ellis kicks into the crowd and all the anguish and analysis disappear as New Zealand heads into a long-awaited summer of satisfaction.