Welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final. In a repeat of the very first final in 1987, New Zealand take on France at Eden Park. In that match, the All Blacks won their first and only World Cup by beating Les Bleus 29-9. Many New Zealand fans believe that today is the best chance of ending their World Cup drought as they face a much-derided French team. France, however, should never be underestimated as they are world-beaters on their day. Can New Zealand claim their first Webb Ellis trophy in 24 years? Or can France provide a major upset and become only the second ever Northern Hemisphere team to lift the cup? Follow all the action below.
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00min: A passionate rendition of La Marseillaise from France. Hayley Westenra leads God Defend New Zealand and there doesn't appear to be a dry eye in Eden Park. Piri Weepu leads an absolutely spine-chilling Haka. France defiantly advance towards it in an arrowhead formation.
01min: They kick-off and it's scrappy on the floor. Yachvili launches a kick into touch to give the All Blacks a line-out. France steal.
02min: France with quick ball as they advance. Enormous defence from New Zealand.
04min: Penalty to New Zealand in their own half. They kick to touch and win the line-out.
05min: Richard Kahui tries to break down the line but is bundled into touch. Penalty awarded to the All Blacks for an infringement at the breakdown.
06min: Weepu slices the kick and it goes a mile wide.
08min: France looking extremely dangerous with ball in hand. New Zealand regain possession and Ma'a Nonu clears with a mighty kick.
10min: New Zealand are pushed back into their own half with a big kick from Rougerie.
12min: Parra receives treatment after coming off worse after tackling Nonu. Replays appear to show McCaw's knee catching Parra as he comes in to challenge on the floor. Parra is replaced by Francois Trinh-Duc.
13min: The All Blacks win a penalty in their own half. Weepu makes a great kick into touch in the French 22.
14min: TRY! New Zealand prop Tony Woodcock breaks from the line-out and goes over in the corner. Weepu can't convert. France 0-5 New Zealand
16min: The field opens up and New Zealand attack. France win a penalty after an All Black plays the ball on the floor.
17min: Hmmmm, Parra comes back on using the blood replacement rule. There didn't appear to be any blood, though....
19min: France penalised at the scrum. Weepu kicks it to touch.
20min: New Zealand doing their best to break the France defence. The French wall absorbs some mighty runs before Israel Dagg is bundled into touch.
22min: Parra down again and looking dazed. Trinh-Duc comes on again. This time permanently, it would appear.
23min: Dagg with a great kick to touch to push France back into their 22. It's sloppy but France win it and clear.
24min: New Zealand maul then spread wide. France turn it over on the floor.
26min: Some lovely counter-rucking from the All Blacks wins them a penalty in the French half. Weepu with his third miss. New Zealand will have to think about changing their kicking situation.
27min: Weepu is making up for his poor spot-kicking display with some lovely tactical kicking in open-play.
29min: New Zealand on the attack now. They attempt a chip in the French 22 but France gather over the line for a drop-out 22.
30min: New Zealand knock-on from the drop-out.
31min: Cory Jane is deemed to have taken the ball into touch from a catch to hand France an attacking line-out in the All Blacks' 22.
32min: France knock-on. Scrum to New Zealand in their own 22.
33min: France lose a line-out on the half-way line. New Zealand knock-on and Aaron Cruden is down. Fourth-choice fly-half Stephen Donald warms up.
34min: It's the curse of the All Blacks fly-halfs as Cruden limps off and it looks very nasty. Donald comes on to make his World Cup debut.
35min: France advance to the New Zealand 22. Trinh-Duc attampts a drop goal but it's wide.
37min: Trinh-Duc makes a lovely run and slips through the New Zealan defence. He is tap-tackled and France knock-on at the breakdown.
38min: Dusautoir penalised for not releasing. Dagg kicks but can't find touch.
39min: Third kicking error from France as a clearance is sliced into touch. New Zealand have one more opportunity to attack before half time but Weepu kicks to touch to end the half.
40min: HALF-TIME. Many people would have expected New Zealand to be leading by much more than just five points at half time. France are putting up a fight and though they haven't really come close to the try-line yeat, New Zealand are looking slightly panicked.
40min: SECOND HALF UNDERWAY. From their statement of intent in challenging the Haka, France have really brought it to New Zealand so far. Having lost Aaron Cruden and down to fourth choice fly-half Stephen Donald, the All Blacks will be looking to get points on the board early in this half if they are to see out a victory comfortably.
41min: France push up into the New Zealand 22. Penalty to France.
42min: Yachvili takes but it glides across the front of the posts.
44min: France clear from their own 22. A high tackle from Woodcock goes unpunished.
45min: Penalty to New Zealand comfortably in front of the posts. Donald to take.
46min: Bath-bound Donald makes the kick. France 0-8 New Zealand.
47min: France make a massive break but Yachvili slips. He offloads and the French get within inches of the line.
48min: TRY! Captain Thierry Dusautoir breaks the All Blacks defence and goes over. Trinh-Duc converts. France 7-8 New Zealand.
49min: Weepu kicks the restart directly into touch to give France a scrum. Weepu is replaced by Andy Ellis.
50min: France are looking energised and dangerous now. New Zealand don't know what's hit them.
52min: New Zealand testing the French defence now but can't make it to the 22.
54min: France push the All Blacks back into their own half with some outstanding tackling. France win a scrum.
56min: Aerial ping-pong goes in France's favour as they win a line-out just in the New Zealand half.
58min: More forced kicking gives France a line-out on the All Black 22.
59min: France relentless in attack but they knock-on to give New Zealand a scrum in their own 22. France penalised for collapsing.
60min: France steal the line-out.
62min: New Zealand force a turn over but a line break is run into touch.
63min: Ali Williams penalised for playing the ball on the ground. The kick doesn't find touch.
64min: Scrum to France on the half-way line. The All Blacks are penalised and France will go for the posts. It's long range, but Trinh-Duc will have a go.
65min: The kick is wide and short. France freshen up their front row.
66min: Fantastic Damien Traille take from a clearance kick. Knock-on on the floor gives New Zealand the scrum.
67min: New Zealand can't get a sniff of the ball. It seems typical of French rugby that after a dismal tournament they are playing like world champions today.
68min: France are pushed back with some decent kicking from New Zealand.
70min: There's 10 minutes to go and one point in it. Nail-biting stuff!
71min: A French maul is bundled into touch.
72min: France advance into the New Zealand half.
73min: France look to be setting up a drop goal attempt.
74min: They are pushed back but prepare a second assault. 16 phases now.
75min: France are awarded a scrum. Sonny Bill Williams comes on for Nonu. Jean-Marc Doussain makes his international debut with five minutes to go in the World Cup final.
76min: New Zealand win back possession and are awarded a scrum.
77min: New Zealand run the clock down with the pick and drive towards the half-way line.
78min: France are desperatley looking for the turnover as New Zealand are camped on the floor. New Zealand win a penalty.
79min: The ball is kicked to touch and New Zealand will take their time.
80min: Drive on from the All Blacks and they win another penalty. The ball is kicked out to end the game and to end 24 years of World Cup hurt.
80min: FULL-TIME. It's not the final that most fans were expecting, but the All Blacks have won their first World Cup since 1987. France made them work for it, but New Zealand are World Champions by just one point. Eden Park erupts. France 7-8 New Zealand.
