Andrew Hore
New Zealand All Blacks' Andrew Hore pours wine into the Webb Ellis Cup as they celebrate beating France to win the Rugby World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland

New Zealand won the 2011 World Cup, their first in 24 years, after they beat a dogged France 8-7 in Auckland, Sunday.

Tony Woodcock's try early in the first-half set the All Blacks on their way in a tense Eden Park. The hosts led 5-0 at the break but squandered a number of chances to increase their lead in the opening 40 minutes.

France produced arguably their best performance of the tournament and they grew into the match after the break. Captain Thierry Dusatoir's try took them within one point of New Zealand, following Steven Donald's penalty.

With fifteen minutes remaining France looked like pulling off one of the great upsets of World Cup history but Francois Trinh-Duc's long-range penalty sailed wide of the posts and with time ticking away, New Zealand held on for a famous win.

The final whistle saw the tension within Eden Park evaporate as New Zealand celebrated their first World Cup win since 1987.