Where Are They Now: 2011 World Cup champion All Blacks
It’s been nearly a decade since the All Blacks quashed their long-standing World Cup drought in front of their own fans at Eden Park in Auckland.
In a match that will forever be etched in New Zealand rugby folklore, the likes of skipper Richie McCaw and cult hero Stephen Donald wrote themselves into the history books after playing vital roles in a 8-7 victory over France nine years ago.
Since then, the Kiwis went on to achieve unprecedented success under the tutelage of Steve Hansen, but it was Sir Graham Henry’s class of 2011 that dispelled the long-standing curse to win their first world title in 24 years.
Some of the match day squad that dispatched Les Bleus in one of the most tense fixtures in modern rugby history are still kicking the ball around somewhere in the world, but most have hung up their boots for good.
With that in mind, here is a look back at the players who ended nearly a quarter of a century of heartbreak for New Zealand and assess where they are now.
1. Tony Woodcock
The only try-scorer for the All Blacks in the final, Tony Woodcock went on to amass 118 tests and won a second World Cup crown in England four years later. Now works as a farmer in Kaukapakapa.
2. Keven Mealamu
One of the longest-serving members of this side, Keven Mealamu’s decorated 132-test career also came to a close following the England 2015 triumph. The 41-year-old now owns a gym in South Auckland, is on the boards of Drug Free Sport NZ and Auckland Rugby, and was last year elected to the Papakura Local Board.
3. Owen Franks
Despite being one of the most solid and reliable All Blacks stars of the past decade, Owen Franks’ esteemed 108-cap international career came to an anticlimactic end last year when he missed out on selection for the World Cup in Japan. The two-time World Cup-winner has since joined English Premiership side Northampton Saints.
4. Brad Thorn
A genuine legend of the professional era, the 2011 World Cup final acted as Brad Thorn’s final appearance in an All Blacks jersey. The 45-year-old signed off his playing days with spells at the Sanix Blues, Leinster, the Highlanders, Leicester Tigers and Queensland Country before entering the coaching ranks in 2017. Now working as head coach of the Reds in Super Rugby.
5. Sam Whitelock
One of only two players in this starting lineup still playing rugby in New Zealand, Sam Whitelock has gone on to create the most formidable locking partnership of all-time with Brodie Retallick. Considered by many to be unlucky to miss out on the All Blacks captaincy to Sam Cane, the 117-test star will kit up for the Crusaders this year after a brief stint with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan.
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6. Jerome Kaino
A standout performer for the All Blacks at this World Cup, Jerome Kaino left New Zealand for a two-season deal in Japan immediately after the tournament, but returned to help clinch a second successive title in 2015. Played his last test for the All Blacks three years ago, and departed again in 2018 to join reigning French champions Toulouse.
7. Richie McCaw (c)
Forced to play three knockout matches in consecutive weeks virtually on one foot, Richie McCaw’s title-winning exploits nine years ago cemented his place as one of the all-time greats. His position as the best of all-time was then solidified when he captained the All Blacks to a second straight title to bring down the curtain on his 148-cap career. Now a part owner of Christchurch Helicopters, an adventure racer and promotional worker.
8. Kieran Read
Another two-time winner of the World Cup, Kieran Read couldn’t back that up with a third successive title as captain in Japan last year in what his final tournament as an All Black. Still an established legend of the game, the 34-year-old has since joined Toyota Verblitz in Japan’s Top League.
9. Piri Weepu
After becoming a cult hero as a result of his goal kicking prowess in the knockout stages of the tournament, Piri Weepu kept playing for the All Blacks until 2013, and eventually hung up his boots after a season with Wairarapa Bush four years later. The 36-year-old has since been starring in his own hunting and fishing TV show, Piri’s Tiki Tour.
10. Aaron Cruden
The third-string first-five following the tournament-ending injuries to Dan Carter and Colin Slade, Aaron Cruden followed suit in the final as he left the field with a knee injury that allowed Stephen Donald to infamously rise from zero to hero. Cruden stayed in New Zealand until 2017 before jetting off to France to join Montpellier, but the 50-test pivot is now back at the Chiefs.
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11. Richard Kahui
Forming one third of the All Blacks’ ‘bomb squad’ back three, Richard Kahui’s best showing at the tournament came in the semi-final when he made sure Wallabies star Quade Cooper knew all about his physicality. His appearance in the final proved to be his last in an All Blacks jersey, though, with the 34-year-old enjoying a long-term spell in Japan with Toshiba Brave Lupus.
12. Ma’a Nonu
One of New Zealand’s modern-day greats, Ma’a Nonu continued to strut his stuff in New Zealand through until the 2015 World Cup. Three seasons with Toulon in France’s Top 14 ensued, which was followed by a shock return to the Blues as he attempted to make last year’s World Cup squad. It wasn’t to be for the 103-test star, who is now in the USA playing for the San Diego Legion in the MLR.
13. Conrad Smith
Nonu’s long-time midfield partner Conrad Smith also kept playing internationally until the 2015 World Cup, before moving to France to join Top 14 side Pau. The 38-year-old remained a player for the club until 2018, and has since moved into a coaching role.
14. Cory Jane
The 2011 tournament coincided with the prime of Cory Jane’s career, which saw him rake up a total of 55 tests before he missed out on selection for the 2015 World Cup. A few more years with the Hurricanes and Toshiba Brave Lupus followed, and the 37-year-old now works as an assistant coach for the Wellington-based Super Rugby franchise.
15. Israel Dagg
One of the stars of the 2011 World Cup, Israel Dagg wasn’t able to maintain his outstanding form going into the 2015 tournament, leading to his omission from the national squad. The 31-year-old launched an impressive comeback the following year, but an injury-ridden spell beginning in mid-2017 forced his retirement last year. Now works as a presenter for Sky Sport NZ.
Bench
16. Andrew Hore
17. Ben Franks
18. Ali Williams
19. Adam Thomson
20. Andy Ellis
21. Stephen Donald
22. Sonny Bill Williams
The obvious star of the bench is Stephen Donald, who completed the most unlikely of comebacks as the most ridiculed player in the country to slot the World Cup-winning penalty. The 36-year-old is still playing for the NEC Green Rockets in Japan.
Andy Ellis had also been playing in the Top League for the Kobelco Steelers, but announced his retirement following the cancellation of the season.
Sonny Bill Williams is now playing rugby league for the Toronto Wolfpack as the richest player in either code, while Adam Thomson is back in New Zealand playing for Otago and the Chiefs.
Andrew Hore, Ben Franks and Ali Williams have all retired and now work in fields varying from farming to media to the cannabis industry.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments