芝生化奮闘記

　誰もがオールブラックスの圧勝だと言われたワールドカップの決勝戦が最低点数と点差の最後の一瞬まで息抜きが出来ない試合となった。フランスの気迫、底力、勝利への執念、雪辱したい気持ち、3回目の決勝進出で念願の初優勝に対する思い、そのすべてが見事に集結していて、本当に素晴らしい試合をした。脱帽です。

　周りが圧勝だと安心している最中でも僕自身がおそらくこんな展開になるだろうとずっと思っていた。

　対するオールブラックスですが1987年開催の初代大会以来優勝から遠ざかっている。その間の世界ランクが常に1位、悪くても2位であり、特に今の監督が就任中の勝率が88％と驚異的でありながらも前回大会で同じフランスの手で準々決勝で敗退している。

　それに世紀のプレイメーカー（10番）のダニエル・カーターが大会中に怪我をしている、その控えも怪我している、控えの控えも昨日の試合中に怪我をし、何と11月からイングランドのクラブでのプレイが決まっていて、荷作りを始めている選手で2ヶ月前から全く試合にも出ていない控えのひかえのひかえの控え選手が途中から入る有様。

　でもいいんです。全てがいい。何も問題ありません。史上最低の点差である1点で我が国代表オールブラックスが24年ぶりにワールカップで優勝したのだ。

　名実共に世界一だ。気分がいい。今日はゆっくりしている。

 The final of Rugby World Cup 2011 defied the overwhelming majority opinion that it would be totally one-sided to end up as the lowest scoring final and the final with the smallest points difference between the two teams. It was a match in which you could not tear your eyes from the screen until the final second. France brought a magnificent combination of commitment, power, a raw desire for victory, the need to prove themselves, and the will to win this their third final. They were marvelous opponents and I salute them.

   I never for a second adhered to the consensus that the All Blacks would win easily and always predicted a close, tight match.

  And the All Blacks. They have not won the World Cup since the 1st tournament way back in 1987. During this period, the team has almost always been ranked #1 or #2 in the world, and during the eight years under the current coach has a staggering win-loss ratio of 88%. Yet the team was kicked out of the previous tournament by -- wouldn't you know it -- France in the quarter-finals.

  Not only that but Daniel Carter, the ABs' 1st five-eight and playmaker widely considered to be the best in his position in AB and perhaps rugby history, was injured during the tournament, his back-up was injured, the replacement was injured in the final, and a player who had previously represented the ABs but has signed a contract to play for a team in England from November and was getting ready for his move, who had not played a single match in the last two months, was forced to take the field in mid-first half.

  But that is fine, it is all fine, there are absolutely no problems with any of that. The All Blacks won the World Cup for the first time in 24 years, albeit by the smallest margin in World Cup history.

 My country is now truly #1 in the world. I feel so good. Today I shall rest.