Review: New Zealand vs Australia

The game was a cagey affair at the beginning with both teams registering 3 points in the first 15 minutes. Australia suffered injury blows in the first 30 miunutes with Kane Douglas going off with a knee injury after an awkward landing and Matt Giteau suffering a cruel end to his international career with a concussion.

Carter added 2 more penalties with Australia on the backfoot and it looked like we would go in at the break with the All Blacks leading 9-3. In the final moments of the half the World Champions put together a sublime move with Conrad Smith throwing an inside ball into Aaron Smith, Smith to McCaw and the captain found Milner-Skudder in the corner to get the first try of the game to leave the score 16-3 at the break.

The All Blacks picked up where they left off in the second half, replacement Sonny Bill Williams offloading to Ma'a Nonu and on his final test match running and stepping 45 metres to score. New Zealand 18 points up and crusing. The game changed when Ben Smith was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle and the extra man showed when Pocock mauled his way over the line to give the Wallabies a lifeline.

Australia added another through Kuridrani after Will Genia spotted some space in behind, Foley got to the ball first and offloaded to the centre as he powered his way to score. A costly 10 minutes for the All Blacks with Australia scoring 14 points.

That was as close as the Wallabies would get as Dan Carter added a sublime drop goal and a penalty 51 metres out. The All Blacks were not done there though, Ben Smith picked up a loose ball and kicked downfield into space, fresh substitute Beauden Barrett had a clear run to the ball and dotted down underneath the sticks to put the final nail in the coffin.

Final score 34-17 and the All Blacks can now celebrate being the first side to win the Webb Ellis Trophy 3 times and twice in a row. A fitting end for the likes of Dan Carter, Keven Mealamu, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and a certain Richie McCaw, who failed to confirm if it was his final appearance in the black jersey.

Credit must go to the Wallabies who have had a fantastic World Cup, topping the pool of death, a feat that no one would have expected a year ago.

MOTM. Dan Carter. Sensational performance from the out half. A fitting way to end his career with a World Cup winners medal after all he's been through. Controlled the game and kicked excellently