Tries either side of half-time from Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma'a Nonu gave the All Blacks a 21-3 lead before David Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani replied for Australia to reduce the deficit to four points with 16 minutes left on the clock.

Their hopes of a comeback were dashed,, however, by the retiring Dan Carter, who landed a long-distance drop goal and penalty before Beauden Barrett scored from Ben Smith's clearing kick to seal an unprecedented third Wold Cup for New Zealand.

"We played some damn good rugby there, we lost our momentum in the second half there but kept our composure," said New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who many expected to announce his retirement after the game. 

"I still don't want it to end.

"I'm still part of this team.

"I want to enjoy the moment

"If you get moments like this, why would you ever call it a day?"

Carter opened the scoring with a penalty in the eighth minute after Pocock was penalised for going off his feet, but in a rare foray into the opposition half for Australia in the opening period, Bernard Foley restored parity just before the quarter-hour mark.

New Zealand were kicked back in front by Carter in the 27th minute after the fly-half was on the receiving end of a high tackle from Sekope Kepu.

The lead was extended nine minutes later when Carter converted a third penalty and on the stroke of half-time New Zealand’s possession and territory finally told as Milner-Skudder went over in the corner after Carter and McCaw had combined well.

Carter converted to give New Zealand a 16-3 half-time lead, which was increased further within two minutes of the restart when Nonu notched his country’s second try.

Australia had reason for encouragement, however, when Smith was sin-binned for lifting Drew Mitchell above the horizontal.

They managed to take advantage with Foley converting Pocock’s try to reduce the gap to 11 and then adding another two points in the 64th minute after Kuridrani had gone over beside the posts.

New Zealand were on the back foot, but Carter put any nerves to bed by landing a drop goal and a penalty from halfway to make the score 27-17 with six minutes on the clock.

Australia threw caution to the wind as the match reached its conclusion but it was their opponents who concluded the scoring in the dying moments as Carter converted Barrett’s try to round off a historic triumph.


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