1999 Rugby World Cup Final

The 1999 Rugby World Cup Final was the final match in the 1999 Rugby World Cup. It was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on 6 November 1999, between Australia and France with 72,500 in attendance.[1]

1999 Rugby World Cup Final
Event1999 Rugby World Cup
Date6 November 1999
VenueMillennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
RefereeAndré Watson
Attendance72,500

Australia won the game by 35 points to 12, and with it, their second World Cup, having also won the 1991 tournament in England.[2]

Match summary

First half

In front of a capacity crowd of 72,500 at the recently completed Millennium Stadium, 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 after four 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.

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.

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 André 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 Queen Elizabeth.

Match details

6 November 1999
15:00 WET/GMT (UTC+00)
Australia  35–12  France
Try: Finegan
Tune
Con: Burke (2)
Pen: Burke (7)
Report Pen: Lamaison (4)
Australia
France
FB15Matt Burke
RW14Ben Tune
OC13Dan Herbert 46'
IC12Tim Horan 79'
LW11Joe Roff
FH10Stephen Larkham
SH9George Gregan 79'
N88Toutai Kefu
OF7David Wilson
BF6Matt Cockbain 55'
RL5John Eales (c)
LL4David Giffin
TP3Andrew Blades
HK2Michael Foley 76'
LP1Richard Harry
Replacements:
CE16Nathan Grey 79'
CE17Jason Little 46'
SH18Chris Whitaker 79'
FL19Owen Finegan 55'
LK20Mark Connors
PR21Dan Crowley
HK22Jeremy Paul 76'
Coach:
Rod McQueen
FB15Xavier Garbajosa 68'
RW14Philippe Bernat-Salles
OC13Richard Dourthe 75'
IC12Émile Ntamack
LW11Christophe Dominici
FH10Christophe Lamaison
SH9Fabien Galthié 78'
N88Christophe Juillet 41'
OF7Olivier Magne
BF6Marc Lievremont 68'
RL5Fabien Pelous
LL4Abdelatif Benazzi
TP3Franck Tournaire
HK2Raphael Ibanez (c) 80'
LP1Cedric Soulette 47'
Replacements:
FB16Ugo Mola 68'
FH17Stephane Glas 75'
SH18Stéphane Castaignède 78'
FL19Arnaud Costes 68'
LK20Olivier Brouzet 41'
PR21Pieter de Villiers 47'
HK22Marc Dal Maso 80'
Coach:
Jean-Claude Skrela

References

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