The highs and lows of the 2011 Rugby World Cup

Matt Porter,Lewis Constable

Tuesday 25 October 2011 19:17 BST

The highs and lows of the 2011 Rugby World Cup

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The highs and lows of the 2011 Rugby World Cup

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9 SEPTEMBER
The start of the tournament is marked with an all-singing, all-dancing opening ceremony at Eden Park in Auckland. Fireworks, high-tech audiovisuals, traditional dancing and the depiction of traditional Maori creation myths were all part of the grand spectacle. Elsewhere in Auckland, thousands of fans also gathered at Viaduct Harbour to witness the arrival of 20 Maori 'waka' canoes and the extraordinary sight of a 600-strong haka.

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23 OCTOBER
New Zealand 8-7 France
The hosts and the favourites for the tournament keep to the script, just, by edging out France at Eden Park. With many predicting a landslide victory for the All Blacks before the game, the reality is very different. A tense and thrilling final is won by a single point against an unpredictable French side who finally run out of luck. What were to be the winning points are kicked by Stephen Donald, who before the tournament began, would have been considered the All Blacks sixth choice kicker. Richie McCaw lifts the Webb Ellis Trophy and a country that has experienced a testing couple of years is united in celebration as 24 years of hurt come to an end.

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Over the course of 47 matches and 44 days we witnessed a World Cup to remember this autumn (if not always for the right reasons).

We re-live the highs and lows that varied from dwarf throwing to dodgy refereeing and at times, the truly inspiring.

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