2011 Rugby World Cup Review

2011 Rugby World Cup New Zealand Review

The 2011 Rugby World Cup has concluded, with hosts New Zealand emerging triumphant. While history will remember what happened on the rugby field, with kiwi battler Stephen Donald's fairy tale topping off a gripping final encounter between the All Blacks and France.

However, the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand should be remembered for what happened off the rugby field. Many world cups can share the kudos of an event filled with atmosphere, joy and great spirit. New Zealand had all of that, but where it raised the bar was the embracing of all twenty teams who attended. Stadiums were filled with New Zealanders wearing their adopted nation's colours and cheering them on as if they were in front of their actual home crowd. Hopefully future hosts will be able to replicate this in coming tournaments, starting with England in 2015.

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