The Opening Ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2011 was held in Auckland, New Zealand on September 9th. It included cultural performances, music, and stories about rugby and New Zealand. Watching the entire union come together for the spectacular event created an overwhelming atmosphere. Another highlight was the All Blacks winning the Rugby World Cup by defeating France 7-8 in the final. It was a nerve-wracking game but the desired result was achieved. A further highlight was the courage shown by Wales in their semi-final loss to France, playing with only 14 men for much of the match but never giving up.