New Zealand stunned hot favorites Australia to capture their first World Cup crown with a 34-20 surprise victory in the final at Lang Park yesterday.
The Kiwis claimed a spirited win on the back of a controversial penalty try ruling with 10 minutes remaining to put them eight points ahead at a crucial stage of the tournament decider in front of 50,599 fans.
With New Zealand clinging to a 22-20 lead and the clock ticking down, Australian winger Joel Monaghan tackled Lance Hohaia without the ball, preventing what appeared to be a certain touch down, giving the video referee no choice but to award the penalty try.
PHOTO: AFP
Standoff Benji Marshall kicked the conversion to make the game safe for the Kiwis at 28-20.
The committed Kiwis rubbed further salt into Australia’s wounds when prop Adam Blair crossed with four minutes to go, silencing the capacity home crowd who had come to the ground expecting an easy Australian win.
The Kiwis could do nothing after 12 minutes when Australian fullback Billy Slater broke the line 35m out and sprinted for the corner, unloading to captain Darren Lockyer, who crossed untouched for a 4-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Slater timed a perfect pass to winger David Williams, who raced away from halfway to score next to the posts. Johnathan Thurston converted for a 10-0 lead. Lockyer then had the chance to put the game beyond the Kiwis’ reach, but dropped the ball over the line chasing a kick ahead with a certain try going begging.
The let-off seemed to inspire the New Zealanders and they came storming back.
With 15 minutes left in the half, loose-forward Jeremy Smith crashed over under the crossbar for a converted try.
The New Zealanders took an unlikely lead moments later when center Jerome Ropati scored near the uprights after Marshall had appeared to knock the ball on — the video referee ruling the ball had been knocked out of his hands by an Australian player.
Issac Luke’s conversion made it 12-10 to the underdogs.
Lockyer put the home side back in front when he crossed for the 16-12 halftime lead.
New Zealand’s early second half pressure told when fullback Lance Hohaia darted over for a converted try.
Then came a moment of madness from Slater when he fielded a kick near his own tryline and realized he was about to be bundled into touch, he threw the ball blindly infield, gifting a try for Marshall and a six-point lead with 18 minutes left.
The Australians came back again when center Greg Inglis crossed in the corner and reduce the Kiwis’ lead to two.
But Aussie hopes crashed with Monaghan’s tackle on Hohaia.
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