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 and 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 two minutes. 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's kicking was important 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 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

FB 15Matt BurkeRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Daniel Herbert IC 12Tim Horan LW 11Joe RoffFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Toutai KefuOF 7 David WilsonBF 6 Matt Cockbain RL 5 John Eales (c)LL 4 David GiffinTP 3 Andrew BladesHK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Richard Harry Replacements:CE 16Nathan Grey CE 17Jason Little SH 18Chris Whitaker FL 19Owen Finegan LK 20Mark ConnorsPR 21Dan Crowley HK 22Jeremy Paul Coach: Rod Macqueen FB 15Xavier Garbajosa RW 14Philippe Bernat-SallesOC 13Richard Dourthe IC 12Émile NtamackLW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10Christophe LamaisonSH 9 Fabien Galthié N8 8 Christophe Juillet OF 7 Olivier MagneBF 6 Marc Lievremont RL 5 Fabien PelousLL 4 Abdelatif BenazziTP 3 Franck TournaireHK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c) LP 1 Cedric Soulette Replacements:FB 16Ugo Mola FH 17Stephane Glas SH 18Stéphane Castaignède FL 19Arnaud Costes LK 20Olivier Brouzet PR 21Pieter de Villiers HK 22Marc Dal Maso Coach: Jean-Claude Skrela

See also List of Rugby World Cup finals

References