1999 Rugby World Cup final

1999 Rugby World Cup Final

Event	1999 Rugby World Cup
Australia France 35 12
Date	6 November 1999
Venue	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Referee	André Watson (South Africa)
Attendance	72,500

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.

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

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. 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)

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 72,500 Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

Australia

France

FB 15 Matt Burke RW 14 Ben Tune OC 13 Dan Herbert  46' IC 12 Tim Horan  79' LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan  79' N8 8 Toutai Kefu OF 7 David Wilson BF 6 Matt Cockbain  55' RL 5 John Eales (c) LL 4 David Giffin TP 3 Andrew Blades HK 2 Michael Foley  76' LP 1 Richard Harry Replacements: CE 16 Nathan Grey  79' CE 17 Jason Little  46' SH 18 Chris Whitaker  79' FL 19 Owen Finegan  55' LK 20 Mark Connors PR 21 Dan Crowley HK 22 Jeremy Paul  76' Coach: Rod McQueen

FB 15 Xavier Garbajosa  68' RW 14 Philippe Bernat-Salles OC 13 Richard Dourthe  75' IC 12 Émile Ntamack LW 11 Christophe Dominici FH 10 Christophe Lamaison SH 9 Fabien Galthié  78' N8 8 Christophe Juillet  41' OF 7 Olivier Magne BF 6 Marc Lievremont  68' RL 5 Fabien Pelous LL 4 Abdelatif Benazzi TP 3 Franck Tournaire HK 2 Raphael Ibanez (c)  80' LP 1 Cedric Soulette  47' Replacements: FB 16 Ugo Mola  68' FH 17 Stephane Glas  75' SH 18 Stéphane Castaignède  78' FL 19 Arnaud Costes  68' LK 20 Olivier Brouzet  41' PR 21 Pieter de Villiers  47' HK 22 Marc Dal Maso  80' Coach: Jean-Claude Skrela